Tapping the international market for prospects, the Cleveland Indians signed free agent Tseng Sung-wei, a 21-year-old who pitched for Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic.
Tseng was signed on Friday to a one-year, minor-league contract for next year by the Indians. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.
Tseng was the only amateur on Taiwan's squad in the WBC. The No. 1 starter on a touring national team, the right-hander pitched five shutout innings July 4 against a US team comprised of top college players.
He posted a 14-0 record in two college seasons and was selected Taiwan's top amateur pitcher this year after going 7-0 with a 0.36 ERA in nine games.
"We have seen him compete at the highest levels of amateur and international competition," Indians assistant GM John Mirabelli said.
"We have worked hard the past three years in establishing a database and developing a scouting network throughout Asia and we hope this signing is reflective of those efforts," he said.
Tseng will report to Winter Haven, Florida, for the Florida Instructional League in September following his commitment to the Taiwanese team.
RSS