Chih-Wei Hu

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #27 prospect in 2018
  After three early-season starts, Hu received his first taste of the big leagues in 2017 as a reliever, and remained in the bullpen for the rest of the season. The Rays have liked the resilient Taiwanese righthander since acquiring him from the Twins in 2015 in the Kevin Jepsen deal. Hu sits 92-93 mph and can touch the mid 90s with his fastball in short stretches. He also features a deep repertoire that few bullpen arms can equal. His above-average changeup has outstanding late depth and is equally effective against righthanded and lefthanded hitters. He also mixes an overhand curveball, a cutter and a palmball that serves as a slower version of his changeup. With a stocky build and the stamina and willingness to be a workhorse as a multi-inning reliever Hu can give the Rays' bullpen some consistency over the course of the season, beginning as soon as 2018.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #5 prospect in 2017
  Signed by the Twins out of Taiwan for $220,000 in 2012, Hu progressed through the low minors on schedule. The Rays acquired him in a July 2015 trade for Kevin Jepsen. He excelled at Double-A Montgomery in 2016, leading the Southern League in ERA (2.59) and pitching in the Futures Game. In short spurts, Hu can show upper-90s fastball velocity and a changeup that humiliates both righthanded and lefthanded batters. His stuff plays a closer to average when he works as a starter. Hu competes and locates in the strike zone with his low- to mid-90s fastball while his mid-80s changeup is thrown with identical arm speed and generates late tumbling action. He also throws a palmball that checks in slightly softer than his changeup, acting as a second change-of-pace. He throws two average breaking pitches: an 11-to-5 curveball with average depth that he throws for strikes and a more horizontal breaking pitch that can be classified as a slider or cutter. Hu should advance to Triple-A Durham in 2017, and he is part of the Rays' long-term plan, possibly as a No. 4 type starter or high-leverage reliever.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #16 prospect in 2016
  The Twins took a chance on Hu back in 2012, signing him for $220,000. His prospect status rose in 2014 when he earned a promotion to low Class A Cedar Rapids after just three starts in Rookie ball. He reached high Class A in 2015 and opened eyes, particularly with a six-inning emergency start in Triple-A. In July, the Rays shipped reliever Kevin Jepsen to the Twins for a pair of pitching prospects, including Hu. He shows four pitches, and three of them have a chance to be above-average. His fastball sits 90-94 mph and some scouts have seen 97. Hu's changeup also earns praise, with some evaluators believing it could be a plus pitch because of his feel for it. He also shows a sharp slider that projects as above-average, and mixes in a palmball. Hu's pudgy, 6-foot-1 frame creates some concern, but his pitchability and control give him a back-end starter profile. Hu should start 2016 with Double-A Montgomery.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #14 prospect in 2016
  The Twins signed Hu for $220,000 in 2012 after he had served as the ace of the Taiwanese junior national team. He pitched well in the system for three seasons until Minnesota, in an unsuccessful run at the wild card, traded him to the Rays for reliever Kevin Jepsen at the 2015 deadline. In his first taste of Double-A, Hu claimed the ERA title at 2.59 and ranked third with a 1.15 WHIP. Hu works at 91-93 mph and has only one plus pitch, his changeup, but league managers marveled at his mound demeanor, pitchability and toughness. He cleaned up his arm action this season and can touch 95 mph, and because he works down in the zone so effectively, opponents must offer at his sinking changeup, which he sells with terrific arm speed. The Rays want Hu to sharpen his average slider to become a more reliable putaway pitch, but his overall average command makes him a strong candidate to become a competitive mid-rotation starter.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed by the Twins out of Taiwan for $220,000 in 2012, Hu progressed through the low minors on schedule. The Rays acquired him in a July 2015 trade for Kevin Jepsen. He excelled at Double-A Montgomery in 2016, leading the Southern League in ERA (2.59) and pitching in the Futures Game. Scouting Report: In short spurts, Hu can show plus-plus fastball velocity and a changeup that humiliates both righthanded and lefthanded batters. His stuff plays a little closer to average when he works as a starter. Hu has a chance to develop into a starter at the highest level, thanks largely to his ability to compete in the strike zone with his low- to mid-90s fastball. His mid-80s changeup is his best secondary pitch; he throws it with identical arm speed to his fastball and generates late tumbling action on it. He also throws a palmball that checks in slightly softer than his changeup, acting as a second change-of-pace. He throws two average breaking pitches: an 11-to-5 curveball with average depth that he throws for strikes and a more horizontal breaking pitch that can be classified as a slider or cutter.
  
  The Future: Hu should advance to Triple-A Durham in 2017, and he is part of the Rays' long-term plan, possibly as a No. 4 type starter or high-leverage reliever.