1. Overview
Chien-Ming Wang (王建民Wáng JiànmínChinese; born March 31, 1980) is a Taiwanese former professional baseball pitcher and current coach. He rose to prominence in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a key starting pitcher for the New York Yankees from 2005 to 2009, achieving back-to-back 19-win seasons in 2006 and 2007, a feat that tied the record for the most single-season starting wins by an Asian pitcher in MLB history. Known for his distinctive sinker, Wang became a national hero and source of immense pride in Taiwan. His career was significantly impacted by a series of injuries, including a foot injury in 2008 and shoulder issues in 2009, which led to his departure from the Yankees and subsequent stints with the Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Kansas City Royals. Despite these setbacks, he made a remarkable return to the MLB in 2016 as a relief pitcher. After retiring as a player, Wang transitioned into coaching, contributing to professional baseball teams in Taiwan, including the Fubon Guardians and CTBC Brothers. His journey from a promising amateur to an MLB ace, through injury struggles, and his eventual return, solidified his enduring legacy as an inspirational figure in baseball.
2. Early Life and Background
Chien-Ming Wang was born on March 31, 1980, in Guanmiao, Tainan, Taiwan. His early life was marked by a unique family revelation: in a 2006 interview with The New York Times, Wang disclosed that the man he had previously believed to be his uncle was, in fact, his biological father. This personal detail garnered significant media attention in Taiwan, leading Wang to briefly decline interviews with Taiwanese media due to the intense scrutiny. Beyond this, details of his upbringing and specific family background remain less publicized, with his path primarily defined by his burgeoning baseball talent from a young age.
3. Player Career
Chien-Ming Wang's professional baseball career spanned from his signing as an amateur free agent in 2000 to his final MLB appearance in 2016, followed by a transition into coaching. His journey began in the minor leagues, culminating in a successful but injury-plagued Major League career, and also included significant contributions to the Taiwanese national team.
3.1. Minor League Career
Wang began his professional journey after signing as an amateur free agent with the New York Yankees in 2000. He steadily progressed through the Yankees' minor league system, showcasing his potential. He played for the Single-A Staten Island Yankees, where he posted an impressive 1.75 ERA, the second-lowest in the franchise's history. In recognition of his contributions, the Staten Island Yankees retired his jersey number 41 in 2006. Wang's talent was further recognized when he was selected to play for the World Team in the All-Star Futures Game in 2003. By 2005, he had advanced to the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, from where he was called up to the Major Leagues. Later in his career, in 2013, he briefly returned to the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, as he sought to regain his form.
3.2. Major League Career
Wang's Major League career was a rollercoaster of dominant performances, significant injuries, and determined comebacks across multiple teams.
3.2.1. New York Yankees (2005-2009)
Chien-Ming Wang made his highly anticipated MLB debut on April 30, 2005, against the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched seven strong innings, allowing only two earned runs, though he received a no-decision in the Yankees' 4-3 victory. In his rookie season, despite being sidelined for part of the year due to injury, Wang pitched in 18 games, finishing with a respectable 8-5 record and a 4.02 ERA. On September 19, 2005, he tied an MLB record for assists by a pitcher in a single game with nine. In the 2005 American League Division Series against the Angels, Wang pitched 6 and 2/3 innings, yielding four runs, with only one being earned. Despite his effort, the Yankees lost the game and the series.
The 2006 season marked Wang's emergence as a dominant force in the American League. He tied for the most wins in the majors with 19, posting a 3.63 ERA over 218 innings in 34 games (33 starts). He even recorded his first career save on June 3 against the Baltimore Orioles in his only non-starting appearance of the season. Wang threw two complete games that year, though his first, on June 18 against the Washington Nationals, ended in a 3-2 loss after he surrendered a walk-off home home run. His first complete-game win was a two-hit, 6-0 shutout against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Yankee Stadium on July 28. In his subsequent start, he threw eight shutout innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, notably inducing 16 ground ball outs. Wang was particularly effective in the second half of the season, winning 10 of his 14 starts with a 3.13 ERA in 92 innings. He started Game 1 of the 2006 American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, earning the win in an 8-4 Yankees victory. Throughout 2006, Wang held batters to a .211 average in tied games and a .205 average in late, close games. He was highly effective against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who batted just .159 against him. Despite having the lowest strikeout rate in the majors (3.14 strikeouts per nine innings and 76 strikeouts overall), Wang was successful due to his ability to limit home runs (0.5 per nine innings, 12 overall) and his league-leading ground ball percentage (62.8%), generating 2.84 groundouts for every fly ball out. At the season's end, Wang finished second to Johan Santana in Cy Young Award voting and received a ninth-place vote for AL MVP. He was also named the top starter in 2006 by MLB.com's This Year in Baseball Awards, garnering over 47% of the fan vote.
Wang started the 2007 season on the disabled list due to a right hamstring injury sustained during spring training, returning on April 24 against Tampa Bay. On May 5, he nearly achieved a perfect game against the Seattle Mariners, pitching 7 and 1/3 perfect innings before giving up a home run to Ben Broussard. On June 17, Wang delivered a superb outing against the New York Mets, striking out a career-high 10 batters over 8 and 2/3 innings. On August 30, he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox before allowing a single. In 2007, Wang again won 19 games, finishing second in the AL in wins and third in win-loss percentage (.731). He also maintained a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and continued to exhibit a low HR/9 innings pitched ratio (0.41, 9 home runs in 199 and 1/3 innings), high ground ball percentage (58.5%), and a high GB/FB ratio (2.51). However, his postseason performance in the 2007 American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians faltered, as he lost both of his starts, giving up 12 earned runs in 5 and 2/3 combined innings for a 19.06 ERA. The Yankees lost the ALDS in four games.
The 2008 season saw Wang at the top of the Yankees' rotation, alongside veterans Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte. He pitched 7.0 innings, allowing only two runs, to earn his first win of the season in the final Yankee Stadium opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. On April 11, he threw a one-run, two-hit complete game against the Boston Red Sox. On April 22, Wang recorded his 50th career win in his 85th start, becoming the fastest Major Leaguer to reach 50 wins as a starter since Dwight Gooden in 1986, and the quickest Yankee since Ron Guidry. He finished April with a perfect 5-0 record, leading the American League. On May 2, he became the AL's first six-game winner. However, on June 15, Wang suffered a right foot injury while running the bases during an interleague game against the Houston Astros, diagnosed as a torn Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneus longus. This injury, which did not require surgery but necessitated extensive rehabilitation, ended his 2008 season. Yankees' part-owner Hank Steinbrenner publicly expressed frustration with the National League's rule requiring pitchers to bat. Wang avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a 5.00 M USD, one-year contract for the 2009 season.
Wang started the first exhibition game at the new Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2009, earning the win against the Chicago Cubs. However, his regular season began disastrously. In his first three starts, he posted an alarming 34.50 ERA, going 0-3 and surrendering 23 earned runs in just 6 and 2/3 innings. Speculation arose that his 2008 foot injury had caused a mechanical compensation, affecting his pitching motion. He was removed from the rotation, diagnosed with hip muscle weakness, and placed on the disabled list. After returning in late May with two relief appearances, he rejoined the rotation but continued to struggle. On June 28, he finally earned his first win of the season, and his first since June 15, 2008, allowing two runs over 5 and 1/3 innings against the New York Mets. On July 15, he was again placed on the disabled list with shoulder soreness, and on July 30, he underwent shoulder surgery, ending his 2009 season. Despite the Yankees winning the 2009 World Series, Wang acknowledged it "would have been more fun" if he had been healthy. On December 12, 2009, the Yankees chose not to re-sign him, making him a free agent.
3.2.2. Washington Nationals (2010-2012)
On February 19, 2010, the Washington Nationals signed Wang to a 2.00 M USD deal with up to 3.00 M USD in incentives, hoping he could recover from his shoulder injury. However, his rehabilitation was inconsistent, and he did not pitch in the majors at all during the 2010 season, instead preparing for instructional leagues in the fall. The Nationals non-tendered him after the 2010 season, but re-signed him on December 16, 2010, to a 1.00 M USD contract with 4.00 M USD in potential performance incentives.
After continued rehabilitation, Wang began a formal rehab assignment on June 27, 2011, with the Class A Hagerstown Suns, pitching three innings. His velocity, initially between 86 mph and 88 mph, reached 91 mph in a subsequent start for the high-A Potomac Nationals on July 2. Following a Triple-A start for the Syracuse Chiefs, Wang made his Nationals debut on July 29. He finished the 2011 season with 11 starts, a 4-3 record, and a 4.04 ERA. Notably, he recorded his first MLB hit and RBI in his final start on September 24 against the Atlanta Braves. On October 30, 2011, Wang was granted free agency but re-signed with the Nationals for 4.00 M USD on November 4.
In 2012, Wang sustained a left hamstring injury on March 15, placing him on the disabled list again. He returned to the majors on May 25, earning his first win of the season by pitching three innings. He then replaced Ross Detwiler in the starting rotation. However, in just four starts, Wang went 1-3 with a 6.10 ERA and 11 strikeouts. On September 23, he hit his first career double against Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo.
3.2.3. Toronto Blue Jays (2013)
On March 22, 2013, Wang signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees, reportedly worth 35.00 K USD per month, with potential earnings up to 2.50 M USD per year and an additional 2.20 M USD in bonuses if he reached the major leagues. He had an option to revert to free-agent status if he didn't secure an MLB contract by the end of April. Wang opted out of this contract on June 7, 2013.
Two days later, on June 9, 2013, Wang signed a one-year, 500.00 K USD deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was added to the Blue Jays' roster on June 11 and made his first start against the Chicago White Sox. Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos guaranteed Wang one start, with further appearances dependent on his performance. Wang earned his first win as a Blue Jay on June 16 against the Texas Rangers, pitching seven shutout innings. This win contributed to the Blue Jays' first four-game sweep of the 2013 season and their first four-game sweep of the Rangers in Arlington in franchise history. From June 11 to June 23, the Blue Jays went on an 11-game winning streak, during which Wang started three games, pitching at least six innings in each with a 2.18 ERA. However, his success was short-lived. In his next two starts, he failed to make it out of the second inning, surrendering seven earned runs against the Boston Red Sox on June 27 and six earned runs against the Detroit Tigers on July 2. After the Tigers game, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons designated Wang for assignment. Wang expressed willingness to accept an assignment to Triple-A Buffalo and was outrighted there on July 5. He was briefly added to the Blue Jays roster again on August 24 but designated for assignment once more on August 26 and outrighted back to Buffalo after clearing waivers. He became a free agent on October 1.
3.2.4. Kansas City Royals (2016)
On January 7, 2016, Wang signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. Following a strong spring training, he earned a spot on the Royals' opening day roster for the 2016 Major League Baseball season as a relief pitcher. On April 9, 2016, Wang pitched a scoreless ninth inning in a 7-0 victory against the Minnesota Twins, marking his first Major League appearance since August 25, 2013. He pitched 38 times for the Royals, accumulating 53 and 1/3 innings with a 6-0 record and a 4.22 ERA. On August 31, he was placed on the disabled list with right biceps tendinitis. He was designated for assignment on September 17, 2016, and subsequently released on September 22, marking the end of his Major League playing career.
3.2.5. Other Minor League and Independent League Stints
Between his Major League opportunities, Chien-Ming Wang continued to pursue his playing career in various minor league and independent league systems. After his stint with the Toronto Blue Jays, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Cincinnati Reds on December 19, 2013. He began the 2014 season with the Louisville Bats of the International League but opted out of his deal on July 13. He then signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox on July 17, pitching for their Triple-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights, of the International League.
During the 2014-15 offseason, Wang signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, who assigned him to the Gwinnett Braves of the International League. In 10 starts and one relief appearance, he recorded a 2-6 record with a 6.10 ERA, surrendering the most hits in Triple-A up to June. He was released on June 19, 2015. Determined to continue playing, Wang signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league, on June 24. He made three starts for the Blue Crabs, winning all three and posting a 2.49 ERA. His performance in the independent league led to another opportunity in affiliated baseball when he signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on July 12, 2015. The Mariners assigned him to the Tacoma Rainiers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he continued to pitch before his eventual return to the Major Leagues with the Kansas City Royals in 2016.
3.3. International Competition Career
Chien-Ming Wang has proudly represented the Chinese Taipei national baseball team in several international tournaments, serving as a prominent figure and contributing significantly to his national team's success.
3.3.1. National Team Appearances
Wang pitched for the Chinese Taipei national baseball team in the 2002 Asian Games, where the team earned a silver medal. In 2004, as the ace of the pitching staff, Wang played a crucial role in leading Taiwan to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. During the Olympics, he delivered a strong performance against Australia, allowing only three hits with no walks and at one point retiring nine batters in a row, to earn the win. He also limited the Japanese team to just five hits through the first six innings in another notable outing, though Taiwan ultimately lost that game.
Even after his call-up to Major League Baseball, Wang's popularity in Taiwan remained immense. All of his games were televised nationwide, often on public big screens to large audiences, leading to his idolization as a national hero. This widespread popularity contributed to his recognition as one of Time magazine's "Time 100" most influential people in 2007.
Wang continued to represent Taiwan in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He started for the Taiwan team in their opener against Australia, throwing six shutout innings to secure the win. In the second round of the tournament, Wang delivered another impressive performance against Japan, pitching six scoreless innings. Despite his strong outing, he was left with a no-decision as Japan rallied to win in the 10th inning.
4. Coaching Career
Following his playing career, Chien-Ming Wang transitioned into coaching, contributing his extensive experience to professional baseball teams in Taiwan. In June 2018, he joined the Fubon Guardians of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League as a guest coach, remaining with the team through the 2019 season. In 2020, Wang moved to the CTBC Brothers, taking on the role of pitching coach. Initially, he focused particularly on developing pitching prospects within the Brothers' farm team system. In the offseason of 2021, the CTBC Brothers announced that Wang had signed a new three-year contract, committing to remain with the team as a coach. On May 10, 2023, Wang's role shifted from the farm team pitching coach to the main team pitching coach for the CTBC Brothers, reflecting his continued impact and value to the organization.
5. Pitching Style and Scouting Report
During his prime, Chien-Ming Wang was characterized as a finesse pitcher who possessed a power pitcher's velocity. His primary reliance was on his power sinker, complemented by an occasional four-seam fastball, slider, changeup, and splitter. His sinker, which was pivotal to his rise as an ace before his foot injury, exhibited impressive lateral movement and was thrown at an above-average velocity, typically ranging from 91 mph to 94 mph. In some instances, particularly in his earlier career, its speed could reach up to 98 mph (98 mph (157.7 km/h)). This signature pitch was developed during his minor league career with guidance from his Triple-A pitching coach, Neil Allen, and catcher, Sal Fasano. By 2016, after a long recovery process from various injuries, Wang's sinker had returned to the 89 mph to 93 mph range, with a top speed of 95 mph.
Prior to his first shoulder injury, Wang also featured a curveball, but he was encouraged to prioritize his sinker instead. His strikeout pitch was an average slider that closely resembled his fastball as it left his hand, effectively deceiving batters into swinging early. Wang also utilized a splitter, though sparingly, typically when seeking a strikeout or a double play.
Wang's pitching style was defined by its efficiency, excellent command of the strike zone, and a tendency to induce few walks and home runs, despite recording very few strikeouts. He worked quickly on the mound and leveraged his ground-ball-inducing sinker to generate numerous double plays. This efficient approach often allowed Wang to maintain a low pitch count and pitch deep into games. Before the 2008 season, Wang relied on his sinking fastball for approximately 90% of his pitches. However, after some less effective outings, particularly during the 2007 ALDS, he actively worked to fully integrate his slider and changeup into his repertoire. By his first three starts of 2008, he was using his slider roughly 20% of the time and his changeup around 8%.
6. Personal Life
Chien-Ming Wang is married to Chia-Ling Wu, and they have two sons: J.J., born in 2009, and Wellington, born in 2013. During his playing career, Wang resided in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and later in Edgewater, New Jersey. He has also learned basic English.
In 2012, Wang publicly admitted to having an extramarital affair while he was recovering from a shoulder injury in 2009. This personal revelation garnered significant media attention. In 2011, a tragic event occurred in his family when his biological maternal grandfather, a man surnamed Huang, committed suicide in a park in Tainan, Taiwan, by hanging himself. Wang had often visited this maternal grandfather during his trips back to Taiwan.
A documentary film about Wang's life and career, titled Late Life: The Chien-Ming Wang Story, premiered in theaters in October 2018, chronicling his journey and resilience in baseball.
7. Career Statistics
| Year | Team | Age | Wins | Losses | Win % | ERA | Games Played | Games Started | Complete Games | Shutouts | Saves | Holds | Innings Pitched | Hits Allowed | Home Runs Allowed | Walks | Intentional Walks | Strikeouts | Hit Batters | Balks | Wild Pitches | Runs Allowed | Earned Runs | Batters Faced | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | NYY | 25 | 8 | 5 | .615 | 4.02 | 18 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 116.1 | 113 | 9 | 32 | 3 | 47 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 58 | 52 | 486 | 1.25 |
| 2006 | 26 | 19 | 6 | .760 | 3.63 | 34 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 218.0 | 233 | 12 | 52 | 4 | 76 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 92 | 88 | 900 | 1.31 | |
| 2007 | 27 | 19 | 7 | .731 | 3.70 | 30 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 199.1 | 199 | 9 | 59 | 1 | 104 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 84 | 82 | 823 | 1.29 | |
| 2008 | 28 | 8 | 2 | .800 | 4.07 | 15 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95.0 | 90 | 4 | 35 | 1 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 43 | 402 | 1.32 | |
| 2009 | 29 | 1 | 6 | .143 | 9.64 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42.0 | 66 | 7 | 19 | 1 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 45 | 206 | 2.02 | |
| 2011 | WSN | 31 | 4 | 3 | .571 | 4.04 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62.1 | 67 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 28 | 264 | 1.28 |
| 2012 | 32 | 2 | 3 | .400 | 6.68 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32.1 | 50 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 24 | 158 | 2.01 | |
| 2013 | TOR | 33 | 1 | 2 | .333 | 7.67 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27.0 | 40 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 24 | 23 | 123 | 1.82 |
| 2016 | KC | 36 | 6 | 0 | 1.000 | 4.22 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53.1 | 60 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 25 | 231 | 1.46 |
| MLB Career: 9 years | 68 | 34 | .667 | 4.36 | 174 | 126 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 845.2 | 918 | 65 | 252 | 10 | 394 | 27 | 2 | 31 | 434 | 410 | 3593 | 1.38 | ||
- Bold indicates a league-leading statistic for that season.
8. Awards and Honors
Chien-Ming Wang received several notable awards and honors throughout his baseball career, recognizing his exceptional performance, particularly during his prime years with the New York Yankees and his contributions to the national team.
- AL Wins Leader:** In 2006, Wang led the American League in wins, tying for the most in Major League Baseball with 19 victories.
- MLB.com This Year in Baseball Awards - Top Starter:** He was chosen as the top starting pitcher in the 2006 season by MLB.com's "This Year in Baseball Awards," based on fan voting.
- Asian Games Silver Medal:** As part of the Chinese Taipei national baseball team, Wang earned a silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.
9. Impact and Legacy
Chien-Ming Wang's impact extends far beyond his statistical achievements on the baseball field. He became a profound cultural and social phenomenon, particularly in his native Taiwan, where he is revered as a national icon and a source of immense inspiration. His success in Major League Baseball, especially his dominant 19-win seasons with the New York Yankees, captivated the entire nation. His games were widely televised, often on public big screens, drawing massive audiences and fostering a collective sense of pride and excitement. This widespread popularity led to his inclusion in Time magazine's "Time 100" list of influential people in 2007, underscoring his significant cultural footprint.
Wang's journey, marked by both remarkable success and challenging injuries, resonated deeply with many. His resilience in battling back from severe foot and shoulder injuries, and his eventual return to the Major Leagues as a relief pitcher with the Kansas City Royals, served as a powerful testament to perseverance and determination. He became a symbol of hope and a role model for aspiring athletes in Taiwan, demonstrating that with hard work and unwavering spirit, even the highest levels of international sports are attainable. His legacy in baseball is not only defined by his signature sinker and his impressive win totals but also by his enduring status as a beloved figure who inspired a generation and brought immense joy and national pride to Taiwan. His story continues to be celebrated, as highlighted by the 2018 documentary Late Life: The Chien-Ming Wang Story, which further cemented his place as an inspirational figure in the annals of baseball history.