How will Cheng help the Pirates?
With Jared Triolo landing on the 10-Day IL with a lower back injury, 23-year-old shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng gets his first call to the show from Triple-A Indianapolis. Cheng is the 17th-ranked prospect in the Pirates system according to MLB Pipeline.
Cheng was signed as an International Free Agent in 2019 and is a great defender, but his bat seems far from being Major League-ready. Despite solid low and high A-ball numbers at the beginning of his professional career, he has struggled in Double-A Altoona in the last two seasons, hitting just .218 in 126 games with the Curve in 2024.
Cheng played in Triple-A Indianapolis for the first time at the end of last season, appearing in six games and collecting six hits in 13 at-bats, but is 1-for-14 to start this season.
The sudden call to the show for Cheng has to be because they believe he is the best defensive shortstop in their system. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has had a good start with the bat this season, but is a much better utility infielder than an everyday shortstop, and his defense to start the season proves this to be true. Cheng could get some starts at short, which could move Kiner-Falefa to second while keeping him in the lineup. At the very least, Cheng can be a good defensive substitution in the late innings of close games.