Tsung-Che Cheng impressed in Triple-A cameo to end 2024 season

After struggling in Double-A the previous two years, Cheng showed signs of life in a week stint in Triple-A

Photo Credit: WTM

There haven’t been many players in the Pirates’ system whose prospect value has suffered quite like infielder Tsung-Che Cheng.

After a solid season in Bradenton, his first full season in the minors, Cheng got off to a scorching hot start in 2023 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers before getting promoted to Double-A.

In 57 games with the Grasshoppers, Cheng hit .308/.406/.575 with nine home runs and 13 stolen bases. Those home runs account for a quarter of his career total, and he did that in a span that accounted for 14% of his minor league games.

He has hit a bit of a wall since making it to Double-A, posting below-average wRC+ marks in 2023 (80) and 2024 (95).

There were some notable improvements last year, but it was still an underwhelming year for someone who showed promise in the lower levels and was added to the 40-man roster before the season started.

Despite that, the Pirates moved Cheng to Triple-A to round out the minor league schedule. Cheng played in all six games that week but only hit in four of them.

It was a very small sample size, but he highlighted a few encouraging things.