Houston: Early in the 2026 season, the Houston Astros found themselves in an unfamiliar position: despite boasting one of Major League Baseball's (MLB) most productive offenses, they also had one of its worst pitching staffs. Through the first month of the season, Houston paired one of MLB's highest-scoring lineups with a team ERA approaching 6.00, among the worst marks in the majors.
According to Focus Taiwan, much of the problem stemmed from an injury-plagued starting rotation. As the Astros weighed their options, Taiwanese right-hander Teng Kai-wei emerged as the leading candidate to fill the vacancy. By the time he made his first Astros start against the Baltimore Orioles in late April, Teng had posted a 2.16 ERA, the lowest among Houston relievers, allowing four runs over 16 2/3 innings.
A month and a half later, the 27-year-old has established himself in the rotation, posting a 3-5 record and a 3.71 ERA. He is currently the only active Taiwanese pitcher in MLB. Speaking with CNA at Angel Stadium during the Astros' recent road trip to Southern California, Astros manager Joe Espada credited Teng's emergence to a combination of toughness, coachability, and a willingness to put the team first.
"He's done a really nice job stepping up and providing some big innings for us," Espada said, praising Teng for his "willingness to do what was best for the team." Espada recounted how Teng volunteered to take on a larger role at a time when the Astros had to navigate multiple injuries. "He said, 'You know what, Joe, I'll step up and I'll be in the rotation. I know the team needs me,'" Espada recalled.
Asked what has stood out beyond Teng's statistics, Espada pointed to one characteristic above all others: toughness. "He is very open-minded, he's very coachable. He understands the information, and he also wants the information," Espada said. "He's been very receptive." Since acquiring Teng from the San Francisco Giants in January, Astros coaches have used video analysis, performance data, and pitch-design adjustments to help maximize his strengths.
The Astros have built a reputation for identifying talented pitchers and helping them improve, Espada said. "Teng is a perfect example." One of Teng's biggest strengths has been his sweeper, which has emerged as one of the most effective pitches of its kind in the majors. Prior to Tuesday, Baseball Savant assigned Teng's sweeper a run value of plus-7, tied for the third-highest among pitchers who throw the pitch, behind only Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Anthony Bender of the Miami Marlins.
Espada said the Astros refined Teng's release point and encouraged him to deploy the pitch in different counts and locations, helping it resemble a fastball before sharply breaking away. The pitch is especially effective when paired with Teng's sinker, he said, as both initially follow a similar path before breaking in different directions. "When that ball is getting to the strike zone, the ball kind of disappears on the hitters," Espada said. "Hitters commit to it thinking that it's a fastball, and the ball just kind of goes away from their barrel."
Espada emphasized that Teng's competitive mindset fits Houston's winning culture. "He's been working really hard, and he wants to win," Espada said. "We are a winning organization, and he's shown that he's a winning player." Away from the field, Teng has also impressed teammates and coaches with his personality. Espada revealed that he recently learned about Teng's extensive baseball card collection and described him as a positive presence in the clubhouse.
Although Teng has been with the Astros for only a few months, Espada said he has integrated seamlessly into the team. "For only being here for a few months, it feels like he's been here longer than a few months," he said.