Chien-Ming Wang
In 2005, Chien-Ming Wang made his Major League Baseball debut as a starting pitcher with the New York Yankees, and it appeared to be the beginning of a very promising career. As a rookie, Wang went 8-5 with a 4.02 earned run average in 116.1 innings pitched. In 2006, Wang would go 19-6 with a 3.63 earned run average as he finished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting. In Wang’s first three years with the Yankees, he had compiled a record of 46-18 as the Taiwanese-born pitcher appeared to be destined for stardom.
Wang began the 2008 MLB season with a record of 8-2, until his career suddenly spiraled downward. On June 15, Wang suffered a foot injury while running the bases against the Houston Astros. Wang would be diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury that would sideline him for the remainder of the year. Wang would return to the Yankees starting rotation in 2009, but he was still hampered by the foot injury as he went 1-6 with an earned run average of 9.64. Wang would never play for the Yankees again, and after watching his teammates win the World Series that October, he would become a free agent.
Wang would sign with the Washington Nationals, but he would sit out the entire 2010 Major League Baseball season as he rehabbed his injury. In 2011, Wang would make 11 starts for the Nationals as he compiled a record of 4-3 with an earned run average of 4.04. Wang would split time in 2012 between the Nats starting rotation and the bullpen as he struggled mightily with a mark of 2-3, while his earned run average was a paltry 6.68. In 2013, Wang did sign a minor-league contract with the Yankees seeking to rekindle the magic from 2006-2008, but he didn’t make the team out of spring training which resulted in him opting out of his deal that June. Wang would sign on with the Toronto Blue Jays, and in six starts, he would go 1-2 with an earned run average of 7.67. Wang was 33-years of age, and it appeared that he was all but through in Major League Baseball.
But Wang wasn’t ready to give up on his dream as he spent 2014 and 2015 bouncing around in the minor-league systems of the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, and Seattle Mariners seeking one more shot. After being unable to crack the 40-man roster on any of those clubs, Wang signed a minor-league contract this past January with the Kansas City Royals. Wang would make a strong account for himself in spring training, and he made the Royals Opening Day roster as he’s making the most out of his opportunity.
Wang has been extremely effective as a setup man to relief pitcher Wade Davis in the Royals bullpen as in 13 appearances this season, he has a record of 2-0 with an earned run average of 2.87 which includes only surrendering one hit in his last three outings.
Wang has never been a power pitcher as he prefers to due his damage in the lower part of the strike zone as a sinker ball pitchers which typically results in more ground balls. Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City is not a hitter’s park which is to Wang’s benefit while he has the luxury of being supported by one of the better defensive teams in baseball behind him when he is on the mound. And with what Wang has done so far in 2016, it isn’t out of the realm of possibilities to see him selected to his first All-Star team this summer, or to be named as the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year.
But what Wang’s story displays is how important that not giving up and perseverance truly are. After that unfortunate afternoon in Houston, it would have been extremely easy for Wang to pack it in at every setback that he has endured along the way. However that has not been the case for Wang who has instead decided to embrace it which is why he is still around. Wang may have found a home with the Royals as they consider themselves a team of underdogs. There’s absolutely nothing flashy about the Royals as they simply play fundamentally sound baseball which is a big reason why they are the defending World Series Champions, and they have an organization full of leaders that has embraced Wang who has truly become a feel good story for us all.
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