Kai-Wei Teng #17

Full name is pronounced as "kiy-way teng."...Attended Shi Tuan Senior High School in Taichung before transferring to Kao-Yuan Vocational High School of Technology and Commerce in Kaohsiung...enrolled at the National Taiwan Sport University post-high school, known for producing top athletes...His parents own a restaurant back home in Taiwan...if he could have a career outside of baseball, he would be a chef...his favorite food is sushi...The next places on his travel bucket list are Hawaii and Japan...would love to live in Hawaii if he could move anywhere in the world...When he was promoted to the big leagues by San Francisco on March 29, 2024, he recalled that he was contacted by Sacramento River Cats Manager Dave Brundage late at night when he was about to go to sleep and was told that he needed to pack up and head to San Diego, where the Giants were in the middle of their Opening Series against the Padres...said the experience felt unreal and he was in complete shock...the first person he called to tell the news to was his dad...Became the ninth Taiwanese-born pitcher in MLB history to earn a win on Aug. 8, 2025 vs. WSH...also became one of four Taiwanese-born pitchers in MLB history to make at least seven starts in a season in 2025, joining Chin-Hui Tsao (2023), Chien-Ming Wang (2005-09, 11) and Wei-Yin Chen (2012-16, 18)...Should he make the Majors, he would become the second Taiwanese-born player to appear with the Astros in their history, joining RHP Chia Jen-Lo, who made 19 relief appearances with the Astros in 2013...Is currently signed to a one-year contract for 2026.

2025

Had his contract selected from Triple A on Aug. 1...was optioned on Aug. 21 and recalled on Aug. 31...spent the rest of the season with San Francisco...Went 2-4 with a 6.37 ERA (21 ER/29.2 IP) and 39 strikeouts across eight games (seven starts)...his 39 strikeouts led all Giants rookies...Earned his first Major League victory on Aug. 8 vs. WAS, pitching five scoreless frames of relief with four strikeouts...became the first Giants pitcher to throw five-plus innings in relief without a run allowed since Keaton Winn on Sept. 3, 2023 at San Diego...Posted a 1-1 record with a 4.41 ERA (eight ER/16.1 IP) and 27 strikeouts over his final four starts of the season...Appeared in 26 games (four starts) with Triple A Sacramento, going 3-2 with a 3.63 ERA, .197 BAA and 89 strikeouts across 57 innings...From June 26-July 25 (five Triple A games, four starts), he allowed two runs in 21.1 innings (0.42 ERA) with 39 strikeouts and 10 walks.

2024

Was in big league camp with the Giants...Entered the season rated as No. 25 prospect in the Giants' farm system according to MLB.com...Recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on March 29 and made his Major League debut on March 31 at San Diego...Tossed 3.0 innings and allowed three runs with four strikeouts...Made four appearances for SF and allowed 12 runs in 11.0 innings with a .326 (15-for-46) opponents' average, eight walks and seven strikeouts...Was optioned to Triple-A on April 20 and spent the remainder of the season there...Was 3-6 with an 8.60 ERA (72 ER, 75.1 IP) in 23 games (13 starts) for the River Cats...Missed three weeks on the IL at Triple-A Sacramento, from July 7-28, with a left ankle sprain...Made two rehab appearances with the rookie-level ACL Giants before returning to Sacramento.

2023

Finished the year with 164 strikeouts between Double and Triple-A, ninth-most among all Minor Leaguers...Began the season back with Double-A Richmond after spending all of 2022 there...Made only 12 starts there before a promotion to Triple-A Sacramento in mid-June...Went on to strike out 96 batters in 79.0 Triple-A innings across his 17 games (16 starts)...Enjoyed success pitching at home in Sacramento, logging a 2.89 ERA (12er, 37.1ip) with 52 strikeouts in eight games (seven starts)...had a 5.40 ERA in nine road starts...Allowed six runs on 10 hits in 7.0 innings across his first two Triple-A starts...logged a 3.88 ERA (31er, 72.0ip) over his final 15 games (14 starts) at the Triple-A level. Limited lefties to a .218 (24x110) clip with the River Cats...Permitted only four homers in his 79.0 Triple-A innings. 

2022

Led the Eastern League with 169 strikeouts. The 169 punches were most in all of Double-A and tied for seventh-most in all the minors.

2021

Led the Northwest League with his 142 strikeouts, 23 more than the second-place finisher...His 95.2 innings pitched were sixth-most in the league while his 21 starts were tied for second-most. 

2020

Did not play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

Went a combined 7-0 with a 1.58 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) between Class-A Cedar Rapids and Class-A Augusta. He struck out 88 batters in 79.2 innings while holding batters to a .194 average. Prior to the trade, Teng was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week with Cedar Rapids for the week of July 14.