Taiwanese infielder Yu Chang on Sunday homered for the Tampa Bay Rays in their spring training game against the Detroit Tigers in Port Charlotte, Florida.
It was Chang’s first homer for the Rays since the team on Tuesday last week announced that they had signed the 28-year-old to a minor league contract.
Chang hit the solo home run to right-center field in the bottom of the second to give the Rays a 2-1 lead.
Photo: AP
However, Tampa Bay fell to 9-3 behind the Tigers by the sixth inning, before Ruben Cardenas and Kameron Misner hit home runs in the seventh.
The Rays plated four more runs in the eighth to tie the game 9-9, and neither team got on base in the ninth.
Spring training games are usually only played to nine innings, even in a tie.
The Taiwanese shortstop, who is aiming to nab a spot on the opening day roster, rejoined the Rays after playing 36 games with them two years ago, when he hit .260 with three homers and 12 RBIs.
Chang, who is to make US$36,000 per month with the team, is eligible for a US$1 million bonus if he makes their major league roster.
He last week told MLB.com that he returned to Tampa Bay because of that experience in 2022, despite receiving minor league offers from 10 teams.
“I feel like people make me comfortable here — not only like coaches, [but the] teammates and everyone here,” he told the Web site.
The site yesterday reported that Chang might face stiff competition for the opening roster, following the team’s signing of Amed Rosario hours after the Taiwanese showed up to spring training.
That did not seem to bother the heavy hitter.
“I feel like no matter who the team signs, for myself, I’ll just get myself ready every game and get ready when the team needs me and give 100 percent of myself,” the site quoted Chang as saying through interpreter Patrick Chu.
Rays manager Kevin Nash told the site he is confident in Chang.
“He did that for us a couple of times. Got up, unloaded on a pitch and drove it out,” Cash said, referring to Chang’s homer on Sunday.
“I think he has some comfort here and some comfort working with [hitting coach Chad Mottola], and anytime you have early success, it’s only going to provide that much more comfort,” he said.
Chang has played all four infield positions in portions of five seasons with the Cleveland Guardians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Rays and Boston Red Sox, batting .204 with 20 home runs and 79 RBIs.
He appeared in 39 games with Boston last year, batting .162 with six homers and 18 RBIs, but after injuring his hand in April, he was sent to the team’s Triple-A affiliated, and became a free agent at the end of the season.
Chang, who had previously suggested he might return to Taiwan and had been in talks with the New Taipei City Fubon Guardians, starred for Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic last year, going 7-16 in four games, with two doubles, two homers — including a grand slam — and eight RBIs.
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