CPBL: Tseng Jen-Ho Sent to Minors After Strong Start; Coach Says Next Game is Set

Taipei, Taiwan – In a move that has raised eyebrows among fans, Wei Chuan Dragons' pitcher Tseng Jen-Ho has been sent down to the minor league just a day after securing his first win with the team and a Player of the Game award. Tseng delivered an impressive 5.2 scoreless innings against the Fubon Guardians, helping his team to a 3-1 victory.

Despite this stellar performance, Dragons' head coach Yeh Chih-Chun explained that this demotion is part of a strategic rotation plan for the team's local pitchers. "Tseng already knows when his next start is, and going down is just to prepare for that game," Yeh stated. "He will definitely pitch in the minor league before coming back up as part of his adjustment."

This rotation strategy, which involves sending starting pitchers to the minor league for at least 10 days of adjustment, is similar to how the team managed ace pitcher Hsu Chi-Chen when he was with the Dragons. Currently, the Dragons have four foreign pitchers—Galeano, Merrell, Gamel, and Wu Tsung-Hsien—who have all completed at least three starts. In contrast, local pitchers like Kuo Yu-Cheng and Tseng have had fewer starting opportunities.

With Tseng's move to the minor league, Kuo Yu-Cheng is expected to be recalled to fill the starting rotation spot. Coach Yeh indicated that this rotation method will likely be employed for the remainder of the first half of the season. While the decision might seem unusual to outsiders, it reflects the Dragons' deliberate approach to managing their pitching staff and ensuring the long-term health and effectiveness of their local talent.