When Cheng signed at the start of the 2019-2020 international signing period, getting a $380,000 bonus, it marked the start of stronger interest in the Asian amateur market for the Pirates, who went on to sign Hung-Leng Chang in 2022 out of Cheng’s home country of Chinese Taipei and Jun-Seok Shim out of Korea in 2023. Cheng couldn’t get going until 2021 because of the pandemic, made his full-season debut in 2022 and then really took off by playing his way from High-A Greensboro to Double-A Altoona in 2023.
Cheng absolutely dominated during his time in Greensboro and while the easy thing might be to credit the hitting haven of his home ballpark, it should be noted that his 1.066 OPS on the road was nearly 200 points higher than his home mark and he held his own in Altoona once he got his feet under him. The left-handed hitter has the makings of a solid table-setter, one who makes a ton of contact and knows how to get on base. He’s not a big power guy, but he did impact the ball more in 2023, showing an ability to find the gaps for extra bases. He’s a plus runner who should be able to keep stealing bags.
While Cheng has played shortstop, second and even a little third, he’s the best defensive shortstop in the system and should be able to stay there long-term. That’s where his value is, with an average, but very accurate arm, excellent hands and plenty of range. If the offensive gains in 2023 continue at the upper levels, he could be a big league regular at the premium position.
The Pirates have become more active in the Asian amateur international market of late, handing out six-figure bonuses to right-hander Jun-Seok Shim out of Korea in 2023 and Taiwanese righty Hung-Leng Chang in 2022. Cheng, a shortstop also from Chinese Taipei, may have started the run, getting $380,000 to sign in 2019. Since then, he’s hit and defended nearly everywhere he’s been, including for Colombia in winter ball and the Caribbean Series and in his full-season debut with Single-A Bradenton in 2022.
Since joining the Pirates, Cheng has shown a knack for making contact and getting on base. He limits strikeouts and draws free passes, with a walk rate just north of 15 percent heading into 2023. The switch-hitter is never going to be mistaken for a power hitter, but he has added some strength and shown an improved ability to impact the ball, particularly from the left side of the plate, with some extra-base authority to all fields.
A plus runner who should continue to be a base-stealing threat, his quickness is an asset defensively as well and he has every chance to stick at shortstop for a long time. The key for him being more than a utility-type player will be to show continued improvement in the offensive impact department as he moves up the organizational ladder and faces better pitching.
