Yu Chang

Yu-Cheng Chang (Chinese: 張育成; pinyin: Zhāng Yùchéng; born August 18, 1995) is a Taiwanese professional baseball infielder for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019.

Yu Chang
Chang with the Cleveland Indians in 2021
Cleveland Guardians – No. 2
Infielder
Born: (1995-08-18) August 18, 1995
Taitung, Taiwan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 28, 2019, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through April 10, 2022)
Batting average.210
Home runs10
Runs batted in46
Teams

Career

Minor leagues
Chang with the Columbus Clippers in 2018

Chang signed with the Indians in 2013 as an international free agent for a $500,000 signing bonus.[1] He made his professional debut in 2014 with the AZL Indians, where he batted .346 with six home runs, 25 RBIs and a .986 OPS in 42 games. He spent 2015 with the Lake County Captains where he posted a .232 average with nine home runs and 52 RBIs in 105 games. In 2016, while playing for the Lynchburg Hillcats, Chang was named a Carolina League all-star.[2] He was reported to be involved in a trade to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jonathan Lucroy; however, the trade fell apart after Lucroy would not waive his no-trade clause.[3]

Chang finished 2016 with a .259 batting average with 13 home runs and 70 RBIs in 109 games.[4] He spent 2017 with the Akron RubberDucks where he hit .220 with a career high 24 home runs and 66 RBIs, along with a .461 slugging percentage in 126 games.[5] The Indians added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[6]

MLB.com ranked Chang as Cleveland's sixth best prospect going into the 2018 season.[7] He spent the 2018 season with the Columbus Clippers, batting .256 with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs in 127 games.[8] He returned to Columbus to begin the 2019 season.[9]

Cleveland Indians / Guardians

On June 28, 2019, the Indians promoted Chang to the major leagues.[10] He debuted that night against the Baltimore Orioles, starting at third base.[11] On August 25, he hit his first career hit and triple against the Kansas City Royals, against starter Eric Skoglund in the 3rd inning and reliever Scott Barlow in the 7th inning. On September 9, he hit his first major league home run, a three-run homer, against Los Angeles Angels reliever Justin Anderson. Overall with the 2019 Cleveland Indians, Chang batted .178 with 1 home run and 6 RBIs in 28 games.[12]

Chang only played in 10 games during the shortened 2020 season, batting .182 with no home runs and 1 RBI.[13]

Chang started at first base for Cleveland on Opening Day in 2021.[14] He hit his first home run of the season on June 5, a three-run shot off Baltimore Orioles reliever Adam Plutko. Chang finished the 2021 season with 9 home runs and 39 RBIs while batting .228 over 89 games.[15]

Personal life

Chang is from the Amis people, an Indigenous Austronesian ethnic group in Taiwan. He is married to his wife Ling, and they have one son, Winston.[16]

See also

References
  1. Warsinskey, Tim (May 1, 2015). "Sizing up Captains shortstop Yu-Cheng Chang: Cleveland Indians Class A Report". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  2. Robertson, Mark D. "Hillcats' All-Star cast shines during trip to San Diego". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  3. Smith, Daren (August 12, 2016). "Riding 42-game hitting streak, Indians prospect Francisco Mejia involved in rumored Milwaukee Brewers Jonathan Lucroy trade". Milb.com. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  4. "Yu-Cheng Chang Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  5. "Yu-Cheng Chang Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  6. "Cleveland Indians add four to 40-man roster; claim Refsnyder; DFA Crockett, Baker". cleveland.com. November 20, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  7. "Tribe's 2018 Top 30 Prospects list is 100% homegrown". MLB.com. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  8. "Yu Chang Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  9. "Columbus Clippers Announce 2019 Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. April 2, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  10. Hoynes, Paul (June 28, 2019). "Cleveland Indians recall Yu Chang, put Jose Ramirez on paternity list, activate Mike Clevinger". Cleveland.com. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  11. "Sisco, Orioles rough up Clevinger in 13-0 rout of Indians". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  12. "Yu Chang Stats, Fantasy & News | Cleveland Guardians". mlb.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  13. "Yu Chang Stats, Fantasy & News | Cleveland Guardians". mlb.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  14. "Cleveland Indians to start Jordan Luplow, Yu Chang in Opening Day lineup". beaconjournal.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  15. "Yu Chang Stats, Fantasy & News | Cleveland Guardians". mlb.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  16. Noga, Joe (April 13, 2021). "Yu Chang receives anti-Asian hate messages on social media following Cleveland Indians loss". Plain Dealer. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
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