Two years after the Giants signed catcher Jin-De Jhang out of Taiwan for $250,000 in 2011, the Indians signed his younger brother Chang for twice that amount. Despite being one of the younger players in the Minor Leagues, he earned all-star recognition three straight years from 2016-18 and also starred in the Arizona Fall League following the 2018 season. Though blocked in Cleveland at his natural position of shortstop by Francisco Lindor, he made his big league debut last year and started regularly at third base in the final five weeks.
Chang's best tool is his raw power, which helps him profile at positions other than shortstop. He can backspin the ball to all fields with leverage in his quick right-handed swing, and he has strength in his sturdy frame. He'll draw some walks, but his aggressive approach leads to strikeouts and prevents him from producing high batting averages.
An average runner, Chang doesn't stand out on the bases but covers enough ground at shortstop. He has reliable hands, makes accurate throws with his solid arm and didn't commit a single error in 28 games with the Indians last year. He's an average defender at short and projects as a solid glove at the hot corner, and he also has seen action at second base.
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
The younger brother of Giants catching prospect Jin-De Jhang, Chang starred in international tournaments for Taiwan before signing with the Indians for $500,000 in 2013. He earned league all-star honors four times in his first five pro seasons despite perennially being young for his circuit, including being the youngest batting qualifier (age 22) in the Triple-A International League in 2018. Blocked at shortstop by Francisco Lindor in Cleveland, he boosted his stock by starring in the Arizona Fall League while playing third base.
Chang is atypical for a middle fielder in that his raw power might be his most impressive tool. He has a quick right-handed swing with good leverage and strength, and he has feel for backspinning the ball to all fields. His aggressive approach leads to doubles and home runs but also strikeouts, so he probably won't hit for a high average.
An average runner, Chang isn't a threat on the bases but gets the job done at shortstop. He has reliable hands, solid arm strength and a good internal clock. An average defender at short, he could be a solid third baseman with more experience and will see more time at second base as the Indians try to increase his versatility.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
The recipient of a $500,000 signing bonus in June 2013 after a decorated amateur career in Taiwan, Chang has since blossomed into one of the top power-hitting shortstops in the Minors while making steady progress through Cleveland's system. He was a mid- and postseason All-Star with Class A Advanced Lynchburg at age 20, built on that performance that offseason in the Arizona Fall League and then finished fourth in the Eastern League in home runs last season while garnering midseason All-Star honors in his first Double-A campaign.
Chang's knack for back-spinning the baseball to all fields using a quick, leveraged swing has long suggested that he would eventually tap into his above-average raw power. He did just that in 2017, hitting a career-high 24 home runs, up from 13 the previous year, to pace all Minor League shortstops, while also posting an extra-base hit rate of nearly 55 percent. Chang's game will always feature some swing-and-miss, and he struck out at a career-high 26 percent clip in Double-A, but the overall approach is solid. He'll never be much of a basestealing threat despite possessing speed that's slightly above average.
A shortstop exclusively since the start of 2014, Chang has the athleticism and requisite tools to stay there. The presence of superstar Francisco Lindor in Cleveland means he won't, however, and Chang is expected to see increased reps at other positions going forward. One possibility is a move to third base, where Chang's strong arm and right-handed power would be clean fits.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Chang had a decorated career in Taiwan and was viewed as one of the premier amateur free agents in Asia when he signed with the Indians for $500,000 in June 2013. He opened eyes in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, made his full-season debut the following year and then earned All-Star honors at Class A Advanced Lynchburg at age 20 in 2016. After the season, Chang continued to impress evaluators with a strong turn in the Arizona Fall League, and he's continued to do so in 2017 en route to Eastern League All-Star honors in his first Double-A campaign.
Chang has a quick bat from the right side, knows how to manipulate the barrel and makes hard contact from line to line, with a knack for creating backspin. He's added strength to his projectable frame and had his power trend up as a result, with 51 of his 108 hits going for extra bases, including a career-high 13 home runs, in 2016. He's shown even more thump against advanced pitching in Double-A, making it easy to project him for above-average game power at maturity.
Chang also made strides with his defense at shortstop, showing better range, cleaner actions and improved athleticism. He has more than enough arm strength for the position, and it would serve him well if he's ultimately forced over to third base. The Indians, however, are increasingly optimistic that Chang will stick at shortstop, where his promising bat holds the most value.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Chang had a decorated career in Taiwan and was viewed as one of the premier amateur free agents in Asia when he signed with the Indians for $500,000 in June 2013. He opened eyes in his pro debut, hitting a robust .346/.420/.566 with six home runs in 42 games in the Rookie-level Arizona League, made his full-season debut at age 19 the following year, and then became a mid-season All-Star with Class A Advanced Lynchburg in 2016.
Chang lacks a standout tool but can do a little bit of everything. He has a quick bat from the right side and knows how to manipulate the barrel, and his line-to-line approach is impressive given his age. He has surprising strength to his projectable frame that helps him generate above-average raw power, and some scouts believe he'll tap into it more consistently as he fills out and gains experience against full-season pitching.
Chang was signed as a shortstop, but he also played third base during his professional debut in the Arizona League. He showed better range last season after moving to shortstop full time, though, like so many young defenders, he also committed quite a few errors. His average arm isn't a clean fit at the position, but it's strong enough to allow him to make all the routine plays. The Indians will continue to develop him as a shortstop, where his promising bat holds the most value.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Chang, a native of Taiwan, was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. He had been a prominent player for a few years and was named to the all-tournament team at the 2011 16U World Championship, when he led Taiwan with a .414 batting average and .690 slugging percentage.
Chang doesn't have any one tool that stands out but earns praise for his all-around play. A switch-hitter, he hits well from both sides of the plate and exhibits a good feel for the barrel. His swing is more geared for hitting line drives, but he does have some power.
Chang was signed as a shortstop, but he also played third base during his professional debut in the Arizona League. The Indians still see him as a shortstop, where he has decent range and an average arm.
Chang was signed as a shortstop, but he also played third base during his professional debut in the Arizona League. The Indians still see him as a shortstop, where he has solid range and an average arm.
