Press Release | September 13th, 2017
The Chicago Cubs today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng from Triple-A Iowa. To make room for Tseng on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Pierce Johnson has been designated for assignment. The club’s active roster now stands at 35 players.
Tseng, who will wear uniform number 39, joins his first major league roster and will make the start tomorrow night against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field.
The 22-year-old Tseng today was named Chicago’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 13-4 with a 2.54 ERA (41 ER/145.1 IP) this season in 24 starts between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa. In 15 starts with Tennessee, Tseng went 7-3 with a 2.99 ERA (30 ER/90.1 IP), fanning 83 batters and walking 24. He was promoted to Triple-A for the first time following his first-career 10-strikeout game, July 3 vs. Jacksonville. The right-hander excelled in Iowa, posting a 6-1 record to go along with a 1.80 ERA (11 ER/55.0 IP) in nine starts.
Tseng was named the Cubs’ Pitcher of the Month for July after a 4-1 stretch in which he pitched to a 2.25 ERA (8 ER/32.0). During that month, he won his first-career weekly award, netting PCL Pitcher of the Week honors for July 17-23 after consecutive 7.0-inning starts (1 ER/14.0 IP). He was also named to his first league All-Star team, earning Southern League mid-season honors.
Tseng was signed as a non-drafted free agent by Chicago in July of 2013. He holds a career 32-20 record and a 3.17 ERA (170 ER/482.2 IP) in 87 games (85 starts) across four seasons in the Cubs system. Tseng was also named Chicago’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2014.
Johnson, 26, went 3-2 with a 4.31 ERA (26 ER/54.1 IP) in 43 appearances (one start) with Iowa this season. He made his major league debut with the Cubs earlier this season, allowing two unearned runs in 1.0 inning pitched on May 19 vs. Milwaukee.
