Non Roster Invitee: Chin-hui Tsao
By john • Mar 1st, 2008 • Category: chin-hui tsao, kansas city royals, non roster invitee
Chin-hui Tsao joins his third organization in four years as he attempts to win a spot on the Kansas City Royals.
He’s hit a few bumpy roads along the way but his age, still just 26, and talent still have scouts salavating today.
While his major league resume may be a bit maligned he has fared far better during his international apperances. Tsao has pitched for his country in five major international competitions, including the Junior World Championships (1996-97, 99), the 1999 Asia Cup and the 2004 Summer Olympics. He made two appearances at the Olympics, going 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA and one save. At the 1999 Asia Cup, he dominated: making three appearances (11 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 19 strikeouts), fanning 15 batters in his one start against China.
After signing with the Colorado Rockies at the age of 19 Tsao was assiged to A-ball.
As a starting pitcher he dominated the minors for the next three and a half seasons and after starting out 11-4 with a 2.47 ERA in the Texas League in 2003 was given 8 starts for the big league club. He made his major league debut for the Rockies against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 25, 2003 as a starter. He worked 6.1 innings, allowed 3 runs, struck out 5 and walked one as he picked up his first victory in the Rockies 7-3 win. He was the first Taiwanese pitcher to ever compete in a Major League game when he took the mound that night.
He would spend just 10 games in the bullpen in 2004 due to inuries and commitments for the Olympics. After having Tommy John surgery in 2005 he missed the next season before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2007 season.
After pitching 10 1/3 scorelesss innings to open the season he suffered injury problems again causing him to miss second half of the season. After the season, the Dodgers optioned him to the minors but he refused the assignment and became a free agent.
Tsao is signed by Kansas City Royals for the 2008 season with a minor league contract and invitation to Spring training to compete for a spot in the bullpen.
While his name has been around a bit it’s worth mentioning he is just 26 years of age. The Royals bullpen situation is hardly set in stone. A good showing this spring could earn any of the non roster invitees a job on the big league club. The Royals bullpen figures to implode by April if science has anything to do with it. Something about piles of crap not being able to stick together without some form of cohession or soemthing. Anyway the point is there will be spots available one way or the other. If Tsao will accept the option to the minors by Kansas City he should be back in the majors by the All-Star break this year.
Over 4 seasons in the majors he is 4-4 with a 5.40 ERA and has 4 saves in 50 games.
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Chin-Hui Tsao would not have been vulnerable to shoulder injuries if he had not pitched too much in his adolescence. Actually, being ace pitchers on Taiwanese baseball teams is not a good thing. Because the coaches will use them very often, which will result in the potential problems of shoulder discomforts and injuries.
I once read an article about Tsao on a webpage. He was interviewed by an MLB journalist on his way to New York. Being a super-duper good pitcher in high school, Tsao said he experienced pitching in four games in a row. Wow, the pitching load was incredibly heavy. I can’t help raising such a question: Would the coach give Tsao an overloading job if Tsao was his child?
Hey thanks for the comments. I really don’t know the answer to that question. I’ve read that some of the Taiwan/Korean born pitchers pitch many days in a row.
I’m hoping he can make the royals myself. He’s pitched in only one official spring game so far. pitching a scoreless inning, striking out one.
Hi John, thank you for your response. I was trying to say Tsao’s bright future had been hampered because of the selfishness of damned Taiwanese coaches. About two weeks ago, I read a Taiwanese newspaper article entitled “Tsao Complains the Dodgers Had Him Pitch Regardless of His Shoulder Soreness”. Tsao said he wondered if anyone had empathy with the frustrations he had gone through. I posted a comment telling him that I always share his feelings and emotions as if they were my own and I always stand by him, although some people tease him and even look down on him…
Tsao’s baseball talent is unquestionable. I am glad that he enjoys being with the Royals. As long as he remains healthy all the time, he certainly is a marvelous reliever. I hope for his anchor of the Royals’ bullpen in this upcoming season.