Available IPI Books

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Sung-Wei Tseng

Sung-Wei Tseng - Right-handed Pitcher
Age: 23 Height: 5'10" Weight: 195 Bats: Right Throws: Right

WLERAGGSSVIPHERHRBBKBB9K9WHIP
2007 Kinston694.0526260140.0130631047923.025.911.26
Career694.0526260140.0130631047923.025.911.26

Photo courtesy of Carl KlineHistory: The Indians signed Tseng out of Taiwan in July of 2006 after he went 7-0 with a 0.36 ERA for the National Taiwan College of Physical Education. He pitched 73.2 innings and only allowed 3 earned runs and 29 hits, and walked only 8 batters but striking out 73. Shortly after signing Tseng, Indians Scouting Director John Mirabelli commented that had Tseng been in the 2006 Draft, he would have been taken late in the second round and that he physically resembles major league pitcher Tom Gordon.

Strengths & Opportunities: Tseng has a compact build with above average velocity and good movement on his fastball which consistently site in the 91-94 MPH range. Tseng throws five pitches, but his best pitch is a nasty split-fingered fastball which bottoms out well and is considered a swing-and-miss pitch at the major league level. Tseng is a very refined pitcher, and he also has very good control. He is also not afraid to come inside on hitters, and has very clean arm action on his fastball. Not only has he been a student of the game on the field, but off it he has been learning English since he came into the organization.

Tseng was given the opportunity to start in Kinston last year to stretch him out, work on his pitches, and be exposed to many different game situations. His win-loss record is a bit deceiving in that he only received about two to three runs a game in run support. Going into next season, Tseng will continue working on locating his low-90s fastball in and out to batters, while changing things up by mixing in his slider and changeup often. For most of last year Tseng sparingly used his devastating split fingered fastball - about one to two times a game - in order to develop his other pitches, but should see much more use of the pitch this year.

Outlook: Tseng currently projects as an exciting arm at the backend of the bullpen, and could be moved to the bullpen to start the season or make the transition later in the year. He should open the season in Akron.