Infielder Yu Chang introduced on his social media that he’s planning to enter the 2024 draft for the Chinese language Skilled Baseball League of Taiwan, relayed by CPBL Stats on X. Per a report from Kayleigh Madjar on the Taipei Instances, the Fubon Guardians have the highest choose within the draft, which is scheduled for Friday subsequent week. It appears the Guardians plan to pick out Chang because the membership launched a press release saying that they’ve been in touch with Chang for a while, including that the “stay up for [Chang] carrying a Fubon Guardians jersey within the second half of the season.” Per CPBL Stats on X, the Guardians will possible provide Chang a contract of three.5 years price between $2.34MM and $2.67MM USD. The Guardians are additionally anticipated to offer the Rays $100K to purchase Chang out of his minor league take care of that membership.
“It’s been ten years working away from house, I miss house very a lot,” Chang mentioned on his social media. “Subsequently I’ve determined to enter the 2024 CPBL draft. I actually recognize that the Rays group has been very understanding and supportive of my determination. I’m at present in Florida enjoying rehab video games, can be 100% wholesome and get again to the sport quickly!”
Chang, now 28, was born in Taiwan and signed with Cleveland as a global free agent in 2013. On his manner up the minor league ladder, he was usually thought of certainly one of that membership’s high prospects. Baseball America had him on the Cleveland high 30 for seven straight years beginning in 2015.
Broadly talking, he hit nicely within the higher ranges of the minors however was by no means in a position to do a lot on the main league stage. His Triple-A manufacturing was normally stable, as he hit .264/.339/.436 at that stage over a number of seasons. He was additionally defender across the infield. Each Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Common thought of him an above-average fielder in any respect 4 spots on the grime.
However a number of call-ups with Cleveland noticed him wrestle on the plate and get despatched again down. He exhausted his ultimate choice 12 months in 2021, which kicked off a nomadic interval of his profession. He was designated for task by the Cleveland Guardians in Could of 2022 however obtained loads of curiosity from different golf equipment, hoping that he may convey a few of that Triple-A manufacturing as much as the majors and mix it along with his sturdy glovework. He would go to the Pirates, Rays and Purple Sox on money offers or waiver claims all through the 2022 season, failing to stay with any of them.
Boston non-tendered him after that season after which re-signed him for 2023. He performed for Chinese language Taipei in that 12 months’s World Baseball Traditional, placing up an enormous line of .438/.500/.938. However he suffered a hamate fracture early within the MLB season which despatched him to the injured listing for a couple of months. His offensive struggles continued when he returned and he was designated for task in August. Over the 5 large league seasons from 2019 to 2023, he hit .204/.265/.359 in his 650 main league plate appearances.
Chang signed a minor league take care of the Rays coming into 2024 however hasn’t been in a position to play a lot this 12 months. An indirect pressure suffered in late February got here with a six to eight week restoration timeline. Per his MLB.com transactions tracker, he was activated off the minor league injured listing on April 26 however was despatched again there on Could 22. He had appeared in simply 14 video games within the interim.
If all goes as reported, it’s attainable Chang’s time in North American ball is over. If he indicators a deal that covers the rest of this season and three extra, he can be 32 years outdated by the point that pact runs out.
