Jen-Ho Tseng Heads to Tianmu
The former Rakuten Monkeys right-hander with MLB experience signs with the Dragons
This offseason has seen several players returning to MLB from Asian leagues, notably star pitchers Cody Ponce and Ryan Weiss from the KBO, and southpaw Foster Griffin from NPB. The trend has not exactly extended to the CPBL, even though Weiss did play for the Fubon Guardians prior to his KBO career.1
In terms of domestic Taiwanese players, things have not fared so well for three former MLB/MiLB pitchers who returned to Taiwan in 2020 and 2021 and whose contracts are up this year:
Wei-Chung Wang, LHP: Wang played for several MLB clubs (most recently the Pittsburgh Pirates) and was the first Taiwanese pitcher to play in the KBO. He was drafted No. 1 overall by the Wei Chuan Dragons in 2020 and was non-tendered this offseason. He is rumored to be pursued by the Fubon Guardians.
Shao-Ching Chiang, RHP: Chiang signed with the Cleveland Indians organization in 2012 but never made it to the majors. He was drafted No. 1 overall by the Fubon Guardians in 2021. He was just picked by the Uni-President Lions as part of the compensation package for catcher Dai-An Lin.
Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP: Tseng showed tremendous promise as a teenage prospect and signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2013. After a couple of minor league seasons where he showed progression, he was called up to pitch against the New York Mets in his MLB debut in 2017. In total, he pitched in just three MLB games, recording a 9.00 ERA over 8 innings. In the 2021 CPBL draft where Chiang was selected No. 1 overall, Tseng was picked in the third round by the Rakuten Monkeys.
All three pitchers returned to Taiwan in a high-profile fashion and signed large contracts. As top draft picks, Wang signed a 5-year, $2 million deal with the Dragons, and Chiang signed a 4.5-year, $2 million deal with the Guardians. Tseng, who fell to the third round in 2021, signed with the Monkeys on a 1.5-year, $240,000 deal. His latest contract renewal before the 2024 season, a two-year extension, was valued at an estimated $435,000.2
It may not look it, but Jen-Ho Tseng was at one point a top pitching prospect in the Chicago Cubs system. He had very brief MLB stints (three games) in 2017 and 2018 and was released in 2019. He then signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers but spent most of the year recovering from a shoulder injury.
Early promise and repertoire
Tseng was a star pitcher at his Sanmin High School in Kaohsiung, reaching 96 mph as a high schooler. He represented Taiwan in the 2011 Asian Junior Championship, 2012 U18 Baseball World Championship, and 2012 Asian Baseball Championship. Tseng pitched at the 2013 World Baseball Classic as a 18-year-old but did not perform well, with his “fastball sitting in the high-80s and his breaking stuff lacking in its usual crispness.”
Still, he was signed by the Cubs for $1.625 million that year for his potential. Tseng was consistently ranked near the top of the Cubs’ pitching prospect list and was named the team’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2017. He was called up in September and became just the fifth Taiwanese pitcher to take the mound in an MLB game.
At his peak, Tseng’s fastball sat at 91-92 mph with a maximum velocity up to 95-96 mph. He also uses a curveball and changeup to round out a versatile mix, though his command has frequently been a concern. According to him, he picked up tips on the circle changeup from three-time All-Star Jered Weaver.
Outlook for 2026
Tseng’s 2025 season was marred by injuries, and he pitched just 18 innings in the CPBL major league, including three starts. Over his five years with the Monkeys, he made a total of 38 starts out of 57 appearances and turned in a lackluster 4.41 ERA in 226.1 innings pitched. His best season was in 2022, when he went 7-2 over 11 starts and recorded 54 strikeouts and a 2.48 ERA.
A stellar 2023 postseason, including two productive appearances in the Taiwan Series, bumped his value just in time for his contract renewal two years ago. Now, the number that has been circulating is a NT$400,000 monthly salary, which is roughly $150,000 on an annualized basis. It would be a reversion back to the level Tseng was offered when the Monkeys drafted him in 2021.
Can the Dragons extract any value from Jen-Ho Tseng? With the departure of Jo-Hsi Hsu, they certainly are looking to fill a gap in their starting rotation. Drew Gagnon and Bryan Woodall,3 who were both re-signed, will continue to headline the front end.
If Tseng resolves his elbow and back issues, the Dragons can hope to see a reliable pitcher reaching his 2022 or 2023 ceiling. However, at age 31 and with little visibility into his path to recovery, this capped upside is paired with outsized downside risk in 2026. He may provide some utility as a reliever, but it would be a pleasant surprise if he is able to get ahead of schedule and step up to a mid-rotation starter role.
Covering the bases
Tainan defeated Taipei and advanced to the Popcorn League semifinals, along with Taiwan Cooperative Bank, Taipower, and Taichung. The Rakuten Monkeys, fresh off their championship, were treated to a trip to Vietnam. Brothers minor league manager and former star slugger Cheng-Min Peng was nominated for the 2026 class of the Taiwanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Additionally, New York Mets left-hander Brandon Waddell, who was re-signed after the 2025 season but designated for assignment earlier this week, played in both the CPBL and KBO.
The reported figures were a monthly salary of NT$570,000 for the first year and estimated NT$600,000 for the second.
Woodall, incidentally, earned domestic status after nine years of service and does not take up a foreign player spot. He signed a two-year deal and will return for his 12th season in Taiwan next year.