MLB: Velocity Drops Across the Board! Teng Kai-wei Sent Down to 3A, Laments Being 'A Bit Tired' and Pinpoints Key Issue

Houston Astros pitcher Teng Kai-wei has been optioned to Triple-A after a difficult outing against the Detroit Tigers, during which he surrendered five runs in just 3.2 innings pitched. Despite managing to avoid a loss, the performance led to his demotion.

Kai-wei acknowledged feeling fatigued, stating, "Compared to the beginning of the season, I am indeed a bit tired." He noted that his current pitching innings are approaching his combined total from the previous two years, although he believes the fatigue is still manageable.

His performance against the Tigers was marked by a significant drop in pitch velocity across all his offerings. His four-seam fastball averaged 91.7 mph, a 1.9 mph decrease from his season average, while his sinker averaged 92.1 mph, down 1.2 mph. His sweepers saw the largest decline, averaging 82.4 mph, a 2.1 mph drop from his season average.

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Compared to the beginning of the season, I am indeed a bit tired.

The Tigers hitters were able to make solid contact against Kai-wei, generating 11 line drives and nine hard-hit balls (exit velocity above 95 mph), with the fastest reaching 108.5 mph. Furthermore, his swing-and-miss rate was low, producing only four whiffs with a 12% whiff rate.

Kai-wei attributed his struggles to issues with his pitching mechanics and, more significantly, his release point. He felt his overall competitiveness was not as high as in his previous start. The Astros have recalled rookie right-handed pitcher Miguel Ullola from Triple-A to fill Kai-wei's spot.

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The biggest problem is still the release point, and my overall competitiveness today was not as good as my previous start.