Yu Chang‘s time in North American baseball may be over. Chang has declared for the draft of Taiwan’s professional baseball league, the Chinese Professional Baseball League, signaling his intent to play professionally in his homeland for the first time. The infielder announced on his social media that he plans to enter the draft, per a report from Kayleigh Madjar at the Taipei Times. The Fubon Guardians have the first pick in the draft, scheduled for June 28. The Guardians plan to select Chang as the club released a statement saying they have been in contact with Chang for some time, adding that they “look forward to [Chang] wearing a Fubon Guardians jersey in the second half of the season.”
Yu Chang Likely Joining CPBL’s Fubon Guardians
According to CPBL Stats, the Guands will likely offer Chang a contract of 3 years worth between $2.3 million and $2.67 million USD. The Guardians are also expected to give the Tampa Bay Rays $100,000 to buy Chang out of his minor league deal.
“It’s been ten years working away from home, I miss home very much,” Chang said on his social media. “Therefore I’ve decided to enter the 2024 CPBL draft. I really appreciate that the Rays organization has been very understanding and supportive of my decision. I’m currently in Florida playing rehab games, I will be 100% healthy and get back to the game soon!”
Chang’s MLB Career
Chang, 28, signed with the Cleveland Guardians as an international free agent in 2013. Baseball America had him on the Cleveland top 30 prospects for seven consecutive years from 2015-21. He hit well in the upper levels of the minor leagues but not so much at the major league level. In Triple-A, Chang hit .264/.33/.436 over multiple seasons. His defense was just as good. Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average labeled him an above-average infielder.
Multiple call-ups with Cleveland saw him struggle at the plate and get sent back down. Cleveland designated him for assignment in May 2022 but got plenty of interest from other clubs. He went to the Pirates, Red Sox, and Rays on cash deals or waiver claims throughout the 2022 season.
Boston re-signed him for 2023 after the club non-tendered him. However, he suffered a hamate fracture early in the MLB season, which placed him on the injured list for a few months. His offensive struggles continued when he returned and was designated for assignment in August.
Chang signed a minor league with the Rays coming into the 2024 season. He hasn’t been able to play much this year due to an oblique strain suffered in late February.
Main Photo: © Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
