Taiwanese Prospect Cheng Tsung-cheh Debuts in MLB, Records First Hit

Taiwanese baseball player Cheng Tsung-cheh received a call-up to the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball team on Friday, making his debut against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The 24-year-old infielder entered the game as the ninth batter and starting shortstop.

Cheng received the news of his call-up around 2 p.m. while with his Triple-A team. He initially felt nervous upon entering the Red Sox clubhouse but calmed down during warm-ups. "When I went onto the field, warming up on the side, I gradually became less nervous," Cheng said through his agency, EXSports International.

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When I hit it, I felt it had a chance to be a hit.

In his first MLB at-bat in the second inning, Cheng reached base on a fielder's choice, driving in a run and giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. In the fourth inning, he connected with a pitch from Yankees pitcher Jhony Brito, sending a double to the right-center field wall for his first MLB hit.

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When I went onto the field, warming up on the side, I gradually became less nervous.

"When I hit it, I felt it had a chance to be a hit," Cheng recalled. He added that while he hadn't faced Brito in Triple-A, he had faced some of the Yankees' pitchers in the minor leagues. "I felt like I proved myself in the minors, so I just needed to play the same way here. My teammates gave me a lot of encouragement."

Cheng's debut and first hit contributed to the Red Sox's 6-1 victory over the Yankees in the rivalry game. He is the 11th player from Taiwan to record a hit in Major League Baseball.

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I felt like I proved myself in the minors, so I just needed to play the same way here. My teammates gave me a lot of encouragement.