Taiwanese pitcher Huang Wei-chieh has been released by the MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates after reinjuring his arm while recovering with one of the franchise’s minor league affiliates, his sports agency said on Sunday.
The agency, Flight International Co, confirmed a report on the Baseball America Web site that the Pirates had released the 30-year-old right-hander from their Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians.
Following Tommy John surgery in April last year, Huang was recovering and had begun throwing live batting practice when he injured his elbow again in June, the company said in a statement.
Photo: AFP
After doctors confirmed he had sustained a torn ligament, Huang underwent surgery early last month and returned to Taiwan later that month to begin physical rehabilitation, the company said.
Based on his current recovery schedule, Huang would return to bullpen practice in April next year and would make a decision regarding his plans at that time, the agency said.
Huang, of Taitung County, was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014 and spent several years with the franchise’s minor league teams.
After being traded to the Texas Rangers in 2018, he made his MLB debut in 2019 before being released the following year.
Huang was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 2022, but was later selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Rule 5 draft. He played part of the 2022 season at Triple-A level before injuring his arm during spring training last year.
To date in his career, Huang has appeared in four MLB games, all during the 2019 season. He has pitched 5.67 innings with a 0-0 record and a 3.18 ERA.
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Injured Taiwanese pitcher Huang Wei-chieh is released by Pittsburgh Pirates
