Cleveland Sports Forum

Indians Sign Yu-Cheng Chang From Taiwan For $500,000


June 4, 2013 by Ben Badler


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The Indians have signed shortstop Yu-Cheng Chang, one of the top Asian amateur players on the market, for $500,000 out of Taiwan.

Chang, an 18-year-old out of Taichung Agricultural High, is 6-foot-1, 180 pounds and is a good athlete who has played all over the field. He has a compact stroke and solid swing mechanics from the right side of the plate. Scouts have said he’s strong, but with his flat bat path he’s geared more toward line drives than generating loft, so he projects to be more of a doubles hitter than a home run threat.

While Chang is athletic and has stood out for his hitting, he doesn’t have a plus tool right now, which leaves some scouts with questions about where he profiles. Several scouts said they believe Chang will end up moving off shortstop. He’s a 55 runner on the 20-80 scale and he has a good running gait, so some scouts think he has a chance to play center field with an average arm. Others think his body type will lead him to slow down, making him a better defensive fit at either third base, second base or a corner outfield spot.

At the 16U World Championship in Mexico in 2011, Chang played center field and made the all-tournament team along with Team USA’s Austin Meadows (the No. 6 prospect in Thursday’s draft), competing against players like Franklin Barreto, the No. 1 international prospect for July 2 last year who signed with the Blue Jays for $1.45 million, and Brazil’s Luiz Gohara, who signed with Seattle for $880,000. Chang led his team in batting average and slugging at the tournament, where he hit .414/.469/.690 by going 12-for-29 with three doubles, a triple, a home run, two walks and one strikeout.

Chang is the younger brother of Pirates catcher Jin-De Jhang, a 20-year-old who signed for $250,000 two years ago and entered the year as Pittsburgh’s No. 27 prospect after hitting .305/.382/.398 in 43 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2012.

The Indians have been one of the most active teams in signing players from Taiwan in recent years. Righthanded reliever Chen Lee, the organization’s No. 10 prospect entering the season, signed in 2008 and has reached Triple-A. Chun Chen, who signed as a catcher in 2007 and is now a 24-year-old first baseman in Triple-A Columbus, was another Cleveland signing from Taiwan. In 2011, the Indians paid $250,000 for righthander Shao-Ching Chiang. Last year the Indians signed righthander Ping-Hsueh Chen for $60,000 and catcher Li-Jen Chu for $40,000.

No sign of Chiang, Cheng or Chu on any of our currently active Class A teams. I suppose they're hanging around Goodyear waiting assignments to the Rookie club.

Chiang, Cheng,Chu sounds like a variation on Act 2 of Turandot.

Chris Perez arrested for drug possession in Rocky River. Marijuana. Sounds like a pound.

Chris Perez had a pound of pot mailed to his house in Rocky River. Could face federal charges since it was sent through the mail.

CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) - Already on the disabled list, Indians closer Chris Perez has a whole new set of issues today, as reports say the pitcher has bee arrested for drug possession in Rocky River.

The Rocky River police has confirmed the news, and Indians GM Chris Antonetti has released a statement on the matter.

“Earlier this morning we were made aware of a situation involving Chris Perez that occurred yesterday in Rocky River,” said GM Chris Antonetti in a statement.

“We have talked with Chris and are currently in the process of gathering additional information.”

The Indians are working on an official statement on the matter, and we will have it once released.

Terry Francona told the media in New York prior to the game. “I can’t say anything. I’ve talked to CP. We are still looking into getting more information.”

Stay tuned for more information.

Seriously.....in the mail.....wow.

I get my drugs through the mail....... Prescription. Can you get medical marijuana in Ohio?

Aviles ejected after game was over:

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ss ... ed_af.html

Is this just one of those typical bumps in the road to Cleveland ? Will Terry Francona restore order to our storied franchise ? These are the questions.

I still have high expectations for this team although some of Tribe Fan's intuitive nature is beginning to rub off on me but only slightly right now.

I filled my basket with the strength of our pitching staff. My hopes for a successful season lies on them.

Perez is renting the house, and neighbors say,before he rented it, there were several drug raids. Nobody has told us to whom the package was addressed.

WoW! Could be a scene from Hollywood about to unfold.

Baron wrote:Seriously.....in the mail.....wow.

Baron, catch up on civilian life, you Marine.

Ganja has been mailed illegally and legally for several years in the US.

In the states where mailing it is illegal, most senders wrap it in enough laundry fabric softener "Bounce" to throw the drug dogs off.

If Perez purchased a pound, he was apparently a prudent buyer with regard to price point.


If the police pounced, I'm guessing they were zeroed in on the former renters.

Comedian Ron White has marijuana delivered on a regular basis. Legally most often, in the states he chooses as his legal residence.

seagull wrote:I get my drugs through the mail....... Prescription. Can you get medical marijuana in Ohio?

I hope when your are in AZ you do not let your prescription drugs bake in the mail box. Heat can quickly diminish the effectiveness of many prescription medicines.

loufla wrote:Chiang, Cheng,Chu sounds like a variation on Act 2 of Turandot.

Another opera fan? Someone told me once that opera and baseball are often shared tastes. One of my best opera buddies is a diehard Pirates fan.