Astros Manager Describes Teng Kai-Wei's Signature Pitch: 'It Disappears in Front of the Batter'

(CNA, Los Angeles, 8th) Taiwanese standout Teng Kai-Wei has solidified his place in the Houston Astros' starting rotation. Manager Joe Espada, in an exclusive interview with CNA, described his elite pitch, the sweeper, as "disappearing like it vanishes when it reaches the plate."

Espada took the helm in 2024, becoming the 20th manager in Houston Astros history.

He has long served within the Astros organization, contributing to three American League pennants and the 2022 World Series championship during his tenure as bench coach. He is well-versed in the organization's strengths in pitcher development and its winning culture.

Espada led the team to Angel Stadium in Southern California to face the Los Angeles Angels. Today, in the visiting manager's office, he granted CNA a one-on-one interview, using one word to describe Teng Kai-Wei's personal qualities: "toughness."

Teng began the season in the bullpen as a reliever, but the Astros' starting rotation was hit with multiple injuries at the start of the season. Espada described how Teng stepped up when the team needed him most, saying, "This is very important. He mixed his pitches well and stretched his pitch count to 80, 90 pitches."

He recalled Teng telling him at the time, "Joe, I'm going to step up. I can pitch in the starting rotation. I know the team needs me."

Espada pointed out that the most important thing was that Teng accepted the responsibility, put the team first, absorbed all the information the team gave him, and made himself capable of facing some very strong lineups in the division.

Espada said another of Teng's qualities is his open-mindedness and willingness to accept new information.

He stated that the Astros organization is very good at seeing potential in players from other teams, especially pitchers. After the team acquired Teng from the San Francisco Giants, the Astros system used various methods to amplify his potential.

Espada said Teng has always been willing to accept new information. "We show him video, we show him data, and he is very receptive."

He said that when the Astros see a very talented player on another team, they aggressively pursue him. Once he joins the team, they use scientific training methods to help him become a truly good player, and Teng is an example of this.

Espada noted another trait of Teng's that aligns perfectly with the Astros' culture: "He wants to win." He said the Astros are an organization that prioritizes winning, and he sees that attitude in Teng. "From spring training, he worked very hard and really wanted to win. That's the value of a player, and he is now performing at a high level."

Teng has earned the manager's trust with his attitude and performance. His signature weapon, the sweeper, ranks first among all pitchers using the same pitch type according to Major League Baseball's official data metrics.

Espada said that after Teng joined the Astros, the coaching staff made minor adjustments to his release point and instructed him to use the sweeper at different counts to create different entry paths, making the pitch look almost like a fastball out of his hand.

He described the sweeper's effectiveness by saying, "When the ball gets near the strike zone, for the hitter, it's like it disappears in front of their eyes."

He said Teng is very skilled at imparting various spins on the ball and has excellent command of his release point. When a batter decides to swing at his sweeper, they initially think it's a fastball, but in an instant, the ball moves away from the sweet spot of the bat, generating many whiffs.

Espada said what makes it most difficult for hitters is that Teng can throw both a sinker and a sweeper. The two pitches have very similar initial trajectories, but the ball moves in different directions at the end, making them very unpredictable.

Off the field, Espada has seen Teng quickly integrate into the team. He laughed, saying he recently learned that Teng is a big fan of collecting baseball cards and showed him his collection. "His collection is fantastic."

Espada said Teng has a great personality, is a good teammate, and has a good sense of humor. "He comes to the ballpark every day with a smile on his face. You can joke with him, and he enjoys interacting with his teammates."

Although Teng has only been with the Astros for a few months, Espada believes he has already blended in with the team. "It feels like he's been here much longer." (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150609