top of page
  • Writer's pictureDominic Konareski

Forgotten Yankees: Chien-Ming Wang

Chien-Ming Wang was signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees in 2000. After spending several seasons in the minors the righty hailing from Taiwan made his Pinstripes debut on April 30th, against the Toronto Blue Jays. The then 25-year-old went 7 innings allowing 6 hits and 2 earned-runs. The start would place Wang has the third-ever Taiwanese pitcher in MLB history.

2005 would feature an 8-5 4.02 ERA season for the rookie, who played in 18 games for 116.1 innings. 2006 and 2007 had Wang as one of the best pitchers, getting 19 wins both seasons (led AL wins in 2006 and would place 2nd in CY Young voting). He would then suffer a foot injury in 2008 that limited his appearances and effectiveness (8-2, 4.07 ERA, 15 G, 95.0 IP), along with a series of arm injuries that had him miss most of the 2009 season and all of 2010.


When back and healthy Wang was then on the Washington Nationals in 2011, starting 21 games over two seasons, once again missing games due to spending time on the disabled list. Wang was signed by New York in 2013, but was released before appearing in a Major League game. He would then go to the Blue Jays and struggled heavily, putting up a 7.67 ERA under 30 innings.


Wang pitched in the minors over 2014 and 2015, before getting a chance with the Kansas City Royals in 2016, this time as a relief pitcher. Wang appeared in 38 games for the Royals, putting up a 4.22 ERA through 53.1 innings, going 6-0 in the win-loss column. His final game would be a stat line of 2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO, 1 BB, 0 ER, against the New York Yankees.


The now retiree has taken up a pitching coach career with the CTBC Brothers, a baseball team that competes in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.


Subscribe to our YouTube (IT’S FREE) here.

816 views0 comments
bottom of page