7. Wei-Chieh Huang, RHP
Birthdate: 9/26/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: Rookie, short-season A-ball, high-A
Stats in 2016: 59 2/3 IP, 5.88 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 8.49 BB%, 25.83 K%
Huang has a long injury history that has held him back since he was signed out of Taiwan in 2014. While he did make the Futures Game in 2015, he’s struggled to get on the mound due to back issues.
Huang has a solid repertoire of a low-90s fastball with late movement that he knows how to spot very well, a change that has tremendous arm speed deception, allowing for plenty of swing and miss, and a curve that he has good feel for.
When he’s been healthy, Huang has shown the ability to dominate hitters by attacking them early in the count with the change up and finish them off with a well-spotted fastball.
When he’s been healthy, Huang has shown the ability to dominate hitters
Huang’s slender build has very likely aided in his issues with back struggles, and without some work on improving his full body strength, those back issues are not likely going away.
If he ends up having to move to the bullpen due to the back issues, Huang will be an absolute weapon in that role, very likely being a guy who would be in the absolute top tier of relievers.
2017 will be an important year for Huang in his development. He is likely to move to the bullpen if he shows another year of physical struggles.
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