Yu Chang

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #30 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Chang was a prominent prep player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. His prospect profile rose as his power developed in the minor leagues, especially upon reaching the upper levels. He made his major league debut in June 2019 and has seen action in each of the last two years.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Chang has solid all-around offensive tools and while his 24 home runs in 2017 now look more aberrational, he still has continued to produce. He is a patient hitter, but his willingness to work deep in counts leads to an elevated strikeout rate. Though Chang may not pass the eye test at shortstop, he can make all the plays at the position and is an average defender with average or better speed and arm strength. He's capable of playing anywhere on the infield--which he did in Cleveland in 2020--and has seen the majority of his big-league action at third base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Chang is 25 and the Indians have waves of dynamic infielders closing in on the big leagues. If he is to seize an everyday role, 2021 is a critical season for him.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #22 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Chang was a prominent prep player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. His profile has risen in the last few years as his power has developed and he reached the upper levels. He made his major league debut in June 2019 and saw a healthy amount of action down the stretch in Cleveland.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Chang has solid all-around offensive tools and he has produced well the last two years in Triple-A Columbus. He is a patient hitter, but his willingness to work deep in counts has led to strikeout rates in excess of 23 percent for three years in a row last two years. Though Chang may not pass the eye test at shortstop, he can play the position serviceably. He's an average runner with at least average arm strength. He's capable of playing anywhere on the infield—which he did in 2019—and he saw the majority of his big league action at third base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Chang is unlikely to regularly play shortstop in Cleveland, but he's already shown he can help the Indians at a variety of positions. He'll enter spring training competing for a job somewhere on the infield.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #11 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Chang was a prominent prep player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. His profile has risen in the last few seasons as his power has developed and he has reportedly received heavy interest in trade talks.
  
  Scouting Report: Chang has solid all-around offensive tools, and while he didn't hit 24 home runs again in 2018 like he did the year before, he still had solid production as a 22-year-old in Triple-A. After getting pull-happy in 2017, he got back to using the whole field more effectively. He is a patient hitter, but his willingness to work deep in counts has led to strikeout rates in excess of 25 percent the last two years. Though Chang may not pass the eye test at shortstop, he can make all the plays at the position and is an average defender with average or better speed and arm strength. The Indians this year began to work to increase his versatility, giving him time at both second and third base, and in the Arizona Fall League he exclusively played those positions.
  
  The Future: Francisco Lindor is entrenched at shortstop in Cleveland and the Indians' next wave of exciting, athletic shortstops is likely to reach the big leagues by the time he reaches free agency. So, while Chang is a capable shortstop, he's unlikely to ever regularly play it in Cleveland. The Indians will have a spring training competition for at least their utility infielder job and possibly one everyday infield role and Chang will be in the mix.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #6 prospect in 2018
  Chang was a prominent prep player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. His profile has risen in the last two years as his power has developed and he has reportedly received heavy interest in trade talks. Chang has solid all-around offensive tools and is now better at tapping into his raw power. Chang has produced 104 extra-base hits in the last two years, more than half his total hits (205) in that time. His swing is still geared for hitting line drives, but he has done a better job of incorporating his lower half into his swing and understanding what pitches he can drive. He is a patient hitter, but his willingness to work deep in counts leads to an elevated strikeout rate, which spiked to a career-high 26 percent in 2017. Chang's tools are good enough to play at shortstop, though his future as an everyday player may be elsewhere in the infield. He is an average defender with average or better speed and arm strength. Chang has exclusively played shortstop in full-season ball, but that will almost certainly change when he advances to Triple-A Columbus in 2018. The Indians have held off playing Chang at other positions as long as possible, but with Francisco Lindor holding down shortstop in Cleveland for the foreseeable future and the Tribe's predilection for versatility, Chang will likely start getting exposed to other infield positions.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #6 prospect in 2017
  A prominent amateur player in Taiwan, Chang was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. He has made steady progress in the minor leagues and earned all-star honors in the Carolina League in 2016. He reportedly received heavy interest in trade deadline talks and was set to be a part of the deal with the Brewers for Jonathan Lucroy that ultimately fell apart. Instead, he helped high Class A Lynchburg reach the Carolina League finals, going 14-for-28 in the playoffs. A switch-hitter, Chang has solid all-around offensive tools. He hits well from both sides of the plate and exhibits a good feel for the barrel. He has more power than his lean, 6-foot-1 frame suggests, and he is beginning to learn how to tap into it more often. His swing is more geared for hitting line drives, but he produced 51 extra-base hits in 2016, more than doubling his career total. Chang's arm and speed both grade as above-average. That, combined with his athleticism and infield actions, gives him a chance to stick at shortstop, where the Indians believe he can develop into a capable defender. Some believe he will outgrow the position, which would necessitate a move to second or third base. For now, Chang will continue his development at shortstop. He'll likely move up to Double-A Akron to start the 2017 season.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #16 prospect in 2016
  Chang was a prominent youth player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. He made his pro debut the next year in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he ranked second in OPS (.986) and third in average (.346). He wasn't able to carry that momentum into his full-season debut in 2015, as he never seemed to get on track at low Class A Lake County. Still, Chang's solid all-around toolset makes him an intriguing prospect. A switch-hitter, he hits well from both sides of the plate and exhibits a good feel for the barrel. His swing is more geared for hitting line drives, but he has more power than his lean, 6-foot-1 frame suggests. Chang's arm and speed are both about average, limiting his upside at shortstop, where he made 25 errors in 2015. The Indians believe he can develop into a capable defender, but he has enough versatility to handle a position switch if necessary down the line. For now, however, Chang will likely start the 2016 season as the shortstop at high Class A Lynchburg.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #13 prospect in 2015
  The Indians have been one of the most active teams scouting players in Taiwan, with reliever C.C. Lee being their most notable success so far, and they ponied up $500,000 to sign Chang in June 2013. Few who watch Chang would guess he's just 19 years old. He generates plenty of bat speed, while his swing draws comparisons with David Wright's. He has a feel for the barrel and should continue to add strength, giving him potentially above-average power. Scouts can see him moving to third base down the road after he spent the bulk of his time at shortstop in the Rookie-level Arizona League. His strong throwing arm should keep him on the left side of the infield. Chang's speed is average to a tick above and his range is solid for now, while at the same time he earns raves for his ability to slow the game down and not look rushed. That maturity gives him a chance to open 2015 at low Class A Lake County as a teenager.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #15 prospect in 2016
  Along with Francisco Mejia and outfield prospect Greg Allen, Chang was part of the Jonathan Lucroy-vetoed deal that would've sent him to the Brewers. Instead, he finished putting together a solid season at Lynchburg. Chang showed why scouts are high on his power potential as he raised his slugging percentage 102 points from his 2015 season at low Class A Lake County. "Chang had a nice year," Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski said. "He battled a wrist injury for a couple of weeks (toward the end of the season), but he made great strides offensively and in ranging laterally. He's learning to be more of a leader." Chang has smooth hands that work in the field and at the plate. He has athleticism and a workable arm but may have to slide to third base or second if he gets much bigger, as one scout compared his frame to that of a young Jhonny Peralta. His power comes with some swing-and-miss tendencies, and some scouts grade him as a below-average hitter overall.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #12 prospect in 2014
  Chang was one of the top Asian amateur players on the market when the Indians signed the Taiwan native for $500,000 in June 2013. His brother Jin-De Jhang is a catcher in the Pirates organization. Chang quickly became a favorite among AZL scouts for his refined skills, especially at the plate, where he showed a compact, quick swing, a good feel for the barrel and more power than expected with a pull-heavy approach. His six home runs ranked second in the AZL behind the teammate Bobby Bradley, and he added two more longballs during the club's playoff run. "It never seems like he's trying to do too much," Indians manager Anthony Medrano said, "but he finds a way to get the bat on the ball and drive (it)." Chang wound up spending nearly as much time at third base due to the presence of slick-fielding shortstop Alexis Pantoja, and that's where he may wind up long-term. He's got the arm for both positions and is sound fundamentally, so he could become a plus defender at third.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Chang was a prominent prep player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. His prospect profile rose as his power developed in the minor leagues, especially upon reaching the upper levels. He made his major league debut in June 2019 and has seen action in each of the last two years.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Chang has solid all-around offensive tools and while his 24 home runs in 2017 now look more aberrational, he still has continued to produce. He is a patient hitter, but his willingness to work deep in counts leads to an elevated strikeout rate. Though Chang may not pass the eye test at shortstop, he can make all the plays at the position and is an average defender with average or better speed and arm strength. He's capable of playing anywhere on the infield--which he did in Cleveland in 2020--and has seen the majority of his big-league action at third base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Chang is 25 and the Indians have waves of dynamic infielders closing in on the big leagues. If he is to seize an everyday role, 2021 is a critical season for him.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Chang was a prominent prep player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. His prospect profile rose as his power developed in the minor leagues, especially upon reaching the upper levels. He made his major league debut in June 2019 and has seen action in each of the last two years.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Chang has solid all-around offensive tools and while his 24 home runs in 2017 now look more aberrational, he still has continued to produce. He is a patient hitter, but his willingness to work deep in counts leads to an elevated strikeout rate. Though Chang may not pass the eye test at shortstop, he can make all the plays at the position and is an average defender with average or better speed and arm strength. He's capable of playing anywhere on the infield--which he did in Cleveland in 2020--and has seen the majority of his big-league action at third base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Chang is 25 and the Indians have waves of dynamic infielders closing in on the big leagues. If he is to seize an everyday role, 2021 is a critical season for him.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Chang was a prominent prep player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. His profile has risen in the last few years as his power has developed and he reached the upper levels. He made his major league debut in June 2019 and saw a healthy amount of action down the stretch in Cleveland.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Chang has solid all-around offensive tools and he has produced well the last two years in Triple-A Columbus. He is a patient hitter, but his willingness to work deep in counts has led to strikeout rates in excess of 23 percent for three years in a row last two years. Though Chang may not pass the eye test at shortstop, he can play the position serviceably. He’s an average runner with at least average arm strength. He’s capable of playing anywhere on the infield—which he did in 2019—and he saw the majority of his big league action at third base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Chang is unlikely to regularly play shortstop in Cleveland, but he’s already shown he can help the Indians at a variety of positions. He’ll enter spring training competing for a job somewhere on the infield. BA GRADE 40 Risk: Medium BA GRADE 40 Risk: Medium
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Chang was a prominent prep player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. His profile has risen in the last few years as his power has developed and he reached the upper levels. He made his major league debut in June 2019 and saw a healthy amount of action down the stretch in Cleveland.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Chang has solid all-around offensive tools and he has produced well the last two years in Triple-A Columbus. He is a patient hitter, but his willingness to work deep in counts has led to strikeout rates in excess of 23 percent for three years in a row last two years. Though Chang may not pass the eye test at shortstop, he can play the position serviceably. He's an average runner with at least average arm strength. He's capable of playing anywhere on the infield—which he did in 2019—and he saw the majority of his big league action at third base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Chang is unlikely to regularly play shortstop in Cleveland, but he's already shown he can help the Indians at a variety of positions. He'll enter spring training competing for a job somewhere on the infield.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Chang impressed with a 24-homer season in 2017 at Double-A and while he won’t repeat that performance after this year moving up to Triple-A, he is putting together another decent year. Chang has mostly played shortstop this year and is turning in his most consistent defensive season. He’s also seen his first action at third base since 2014, as the Indians look to increase his positional versatility as he nears the majors.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Chang was a prominent prep player in Taiwan and was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. His profile has risen in 2016 and 2017 as his power has developed. Scouting Report: Chang has solid all-around offensive tools and is now tapping into his raw power. He has produced 104 extra-base hits in the last two years, more than half his total hits (205) in that time. His swing is still geared to hit line drives, but he has done a better job of incorporating his lower half into his swing and understanding what pitches he can drive. He is a patient hitter, but his willingness to work deep counts leads to an elevated strikeout rate, which spiked to a career-high 26 percent in 2017. Chang's tools are good enough to play at shortstop, though his future as an everyday player may be elsewhere. He is an average defender with average or better speed and arm strength. The Future: Chang has exclusively played shortstop in full-season ball, but that will likely change at Triple-A Columbus in 2018. With Francisco Lindor holding down shortstop in Cleveland, and with the Indians' predilection for versatility, Chang will likely begin gaining exposure to other infield positions.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: A prominent amateur player in Taiwan, Chang was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. He has made steady progress in the minor leagues and earned all-star honors in the Carolina League in 2016. He reportedly received heavy interest in trade deadline talks and was set to be a part of the deal with the Brewers for Jonathan Lucroy that ultimately fell apart. Instead, he helped high Class A Lynchburg reach the Carolina League finals, going 14-for-28 in the playoffs. Scouting Report: A switch-hitter, Chang has solid all-around offensive tools. He hits well from both sides of the plate and exhibits a good feel for the barrel. He has more power than his lean, 6-foot-1 frame suggests, and he is beginning to learn how to tap into it more often. His swing is more geared for hitting line drives, but he produced 51 extra-base hits in 2016, more than doubling his career total. Chang's arm and speed both grade as above-average. That, combined with his athleticism and infield actions, gives him a chance to stick at shortstop, where the Indians believe he can develop into a capable defender. Some believe he will outgrow the position, which would necessitate a move to second or third base.
  
  The Future: For now, Chang will continue his development at shortstop. He'll likely move up to Double-A Akron to start the 2017 season.