Pirates call up Tsung-Che Cheng (鄭宗哲), who will be the third Taiwanese player in Pirates history when he takes the field.

Before the game on Monday evening the Pittsburgh Pirates called up shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng (鄭宗哲) to their roster. Cheng is the Pirates #17 ranked prospect, and was added when infielder Jared Triolo was placed on the 10-day injured list. Cheng was signed as a 17-year-old in 2019, and he is among over a dozen Taiwanese players and prospects who have been in the Pirates organziation. When he gets into a regular season game he will be the third Taiwanese player to make the big league roster, after Wei-chung Wang in 2019 and Yu Chang in 2022.

Online tai chi and qigong classes in March from local wushu and tai chi master.

Mengjun Wang, a wushu champion and master instructor at Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center in Squirrel Hill, will be offering a series of online tai chi and qigong classes.

✨ Start Your Journey to Wellness This March! ✨

🏮 Transform your mind and body with the ancient Chinese practice of Ba Duan Jin. Relieve back pain, digestive issues, anxiety, insomnia, and more!

📅 Flexible Schedule: Suitable for all ages and physical abilities.

💡 Limited-Time Offer: First class is FREE—limited spots available!

Registration can be completed online or via the QR code in the poster.

Pirates sign Korean prospect Hyun-Seung Lee (이현승).

Baseball America reports the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed Korean infield prospect Hyun-Seung Lee (이현승) as one of their eight international free agents on January 15. Lee is a 16-year-old from Seoul, standing 6'1" and weighing 178 pounds. Baseball America, via Yonhap, notes his promising bat speed and power.

The Pirates have had a somewhat active scouting presence in South Korea for over 25 years, but have not made many notable high school signings. In 2023 the team did sign Shim Jun-seok, who was considered among the best Korean high school prospects at the time, but traded him to the Miami Marlins last season for Bryan de la Cruz (who has since left for the Atlanta Braves).

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center 2024 Summer Intensive Program for kids' fitness, culture, and language training, now accepting applications; $30 discount with registration by April 30.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center in Squirrel Hill is now accepting registration for its 2024 Summer Intensive Program, with a $30 discount on weekly tuition for registrations made by April 30. Registration can be made by contacting the school at 412-336-8898 or masters at winwinkungfu.com.

Benefits of Win-Win Kung Fu Summer Intensive Program

 

Major

 

• Learn Kung Fu, free style Chinese kickboxing (sanda) and other forms of Chinese martial arts and Chinese language daily, with strong emphasis on the basics.
• Focus greatly on exercise and conditioning and gain skills needed for other sports and activities as well.
• Improve your concentration and focus with authentic Chinese martial arts training.
• Boot camp for beginners
• Intensive training for intermediate and advanced Wushu as well as a boot camp for beginners.

2022 Japanese animated film The First Slam Dunk in Pittsburgh from July 27.

The 2022 Japanese animated film The First Slam Dunk will play in Pittsburgh from July 27.

Shohoku's "speedster" and point guard, Ryota Miyagi, always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure. Born and raised in Okinawa, Ryota had a brother who was three years older. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, who was a famous local player from a young age, Ryota also became addicted to basketball. In his second year of high school, Ryota plays with the Shohoku High School basketball team along with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui as they take the stage at the Inter-High School National Championship. And now, they are on the brink of challenging the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School.

Wikipedia notes it won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year in 2023. It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some screenings are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

2022 Japanese animated film The First Slam Dunk in Pittsburgh from July 27.

The 2022 Japanese animated film The First Slam Dunk will play in Pittsburgh from July 27.

Shohoku's "speedster" and point guard, Ryota Miyagi, always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure. Born and raised in Okinawa, Ryota had a brother who was three years older. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, who was a famous local player from a young age, Ryota also became addicted to basketball. In his second year of high school, Ryota plays with the Shohoku High School basketball team along with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui as they take the stage at the Inter-High School National Championship. And now, they are on the brink of challenging the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School.

Wikipedia notes it won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year in 2023. It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some screenings are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Slots still available at earlybird pricing for Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center 2023 Summer Intensive Program for kids' fitness, culture, and language training, running four weeks from July 24.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center in Squirrel Hill is still accepting registration for its 2023 Summer Intensive Program, amd still offering a $30 discount on weekly tuition from the original price.

Benefits of Win-Win Kung Fu Summer Intensive Program

Major

• Learn Kung Fu, free style Chinese kickboxing (sanda) and other forms of Chinese martial arts and Chinese language daily, with strong emphasis on the basics.

• Focus greatly on exercise and conditioning and gain skills needed for other sports and activities as well.

• Improve your concentration and focus with authentic Chinese martial arts training.

• Boot camp for beginners

• Intensive training for intermediate and advanced Wushu as well as a boot camp for beginners.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center 2023 Summer Intensive Program for kids' fitness, culture, and language training, now accepting applications; $30 discount with registration by May 31.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center in Squirrel Hill is now accepting registration for its 2023 Summer Intensive Program, with a $30 discount on weekly tuition for registrations made by May 31.

Benefits of Win-Win Kung Fu Summer Intensive Program

Major

• Learn Kung Fu, free style Chinese kickboxing (sanda) and other forms of Chinese martial arts and Chinese language daily, with strong emphasis on the basics.

• Focus greatly on exercise and conditioning and gain skills needed for other sports and activities as well.

• Improve your concentration and focus with authentic Chinese martial arts training.

• Boot camp for beginners

• Intensive training for intermediate and advanced Wushu as well as a boot camp for beginners.

Pirates welcome new pitching prospect Shim Jun-seok (심준석) to Pittsburgh.

18-year-old pitching prospect Shim Jun-seok (심준석), who the Pirates signed earlier this month out of Duk-soo High School, arrived in Pittsburgh for a introductory press conference and photoshoot yesterday.

New Pirates signee Shim Jun-seok to be at PNC Park on the 26th for introductory meeting.

from @Pirates 

Shim Jun-seok (심준석), an 18-year-old Korean pitching prospect signed by the Pirates on January 15th, will make his way to Pittsburgh on the 24th and will has a formal introduction to the team on the 26th, according to SBS.

심준석은 오는 24일 미국으로 출국해, 현지 시간으로 26일 미국 펜실베이니아주 피츠버그 PNC 파크에서 열리는 입단식에 참석합니다.

Shim pitches for Duk-soo High School (덕수고교) in Seoul, and has drawn comparisons to fellow Korean (and forer Pirate) Chan-ho Park.

Pittsburgh Pirates sign top Korean pitching prospect Shim Jun-seok.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed 18-year-old pitcher Shim Jun-seok (심준석), considered among the best prospects in baseball and the top Korean prospect, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.

Shim, South Korea's top prospect, throws a fastball that tops out at 100 mph and consistently sits in the 94-96 range. He features a true 12-6 curveball and shows good command of all of his pitches. What’s more, the big and strong-bodied Shim has been praised for his clean arm action and his athleticism.

It’s also worth noting that his slider and changeup are also emerging and could eventually develop into plus pitches in the future. He’s been compared to a young Chan Ho Park since his early teens because of his poise, makeup and fastball.

Chan-ho Park also pitched for Pittsburgh at the end of his career. The Pirates have had Korean prospects in their system since the 1990s, but it's only been recently that they've made an effort to scout and sign top prospects from the KBO, and from East Asia in general.

Pittsburgh Pirates reportedly close to signing top Korean pitching prospect Shim Jun-seok.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are close to signing 18-year-old pitcher Shim Jun-seok (심준석), considered among the best prospects in baseball and the top Korean prospect, according to ESPN KBO insider Daniel Kim. A profile, from MLB.com:

The scouts that have seen Shim pitch make a case that he is the best arm in this year’s international class.

What’s not to like?

He throws a fastball that tops out at 100 mph and consistently sits in the 94-96 range. He features a true 12-6 curveball and shows good command of all of his pitches. What’s more, the big and strong-bodied Shim has been praised for his clean arm action and his athleticism.

It’s also worth noting that his slider and changeup are also emerging and could eventually develop into plus pitches in the future. He’s been compared to a young Chan Ho Park since his early teens because of his poise, makeup and fastball.

Kim is currently eligible to sign with a Major League team but will likely wait until the start of the next international signing period in January to sign.

The international signing period starts on January 15.

Pittsburgh Pirates acquire Chinese-American Connor Joe.

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Connoe Joe today from the Colorado Rockies. Joe was originally a first-round draft choice of the Pirates in 2015 but was traded to Atlanta two years later, and spent parts of the last three years in the Major Leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates organization adds Taiwanese pitcher Wei-Chieh Huang (黃暐傑) in minor league phase of Rule 5 draft.

The Pittsburgh Pirates made Taiwanese pitcher Wei-Chieh Huang (黃暐傑) one of their five selections in Wednesday's Rule 5 draft. Huang was selected in the Minor League portion, and is not required to remain on the Major League roster. The 29 year old pitched in four career Major League games so far, with the Texas Rangers in 2019.

The Pirates have had numerous Taiwanese players in the system over the years, and two on the Major League roster: Wei-chung Wang in 2019 and Yu Chang in 2022.

Pittsburgh Pirates acquire Ji-man Choi (최지만) from Tampa Bay.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired firstbaseman Ji-man Choi (최지만) from Tampa Bay. Choi, has played on four different teams over his seven years in the league, and has found his most success and longevity with the Rays over the last five years. As has been the fashion with the Pirates and seasoned players, he figures to provide a solid veteran presence at 1B, at least for part of the season before being moved near the deadline.

If Choi plays in a regular season game he will be the fifth Korean in Pittsburgh Pirates history: Chan-ho Park in 2010, Jung-ho Kang from 2015 through 2019, Hoy Park in 2021-2022, and Ji-hwan Bae in 2022, though the Pirates have had several other Korean prospects and players in their system over the decades.

Choi, Jung-ho Kang, and Ji-hwan Bae in 2019, from Bae's Instagram.

Pittsburgh Pirates acquire Taiwanese baseball player Yu Chang (張育成).

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Taiwanese baseball player Yu Chang (張育成) from the Cleveland Guardians today for cash considerations. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes of the infielder:

Chang, 26, was designated for assignment on Thursday. He has played parts of four years in Cleveland, hitting .208 with a .637 OPS in 131 games, with his best year coming in 2021.

Chang played 89 games that season and hit .228 with a .693 OPS, compiling 14 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 39 RBIs and 32 runs scored.

. . .

He’s been worth 8 Outs Above Average, per Baseball Savant, and is capable of playing all four infield positions.

Assuming he plays for the Pirates he will be the second Taiwanese player in team history, after Wei-Chung Wang in 2019, though there have been numerous Taiwanese prospects in the minor league system over the last two decades.

2022 Summer Kung Fu Culture Camp at Win-Win Kung Fu in Squirrel Hill, July and August; May 31 registration deadline for discounted rates.

Squirrel Hill's Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center will host a 2022 Summer Kung Fu Culture Program this July and August.

2022 Summer Intensive Program

 

Week 1. July 25 – 29

Week 2. August 1 - 5

Week 3. August 8 - 12

Week 4. August 15 - 19

 

 

Squirrel Hill Studio

2705-2707 Murray Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15217

 

Learn kung fu with champion masters!

Learn Chinese language, Chinese culture and more!

 

 

Register Now!

 

Register by May 31^st to get $30 off weekly tuition!

 

 

Pittsburgh Pirates and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo host visitors from Pittsburgh Japanese School.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo hosted students and families from the Pittsburgh Japanese School on Saturday, May 21, for a pregame "press conference" with students and on-field recognition. From the Pirates Twitter:

2022 Summer Kung Fu Culture Camp at Win-Win Kung Fu in Squirrel Hill, July and August.

Squirrel Hill's Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center will host a 2022 Summer Kung Fu Culture Program this July and August.

2022 Summer Intensive Program

 

Week 1. July 25 – 29

Week 2. August 1 - 5

Week 3. August 8 - 12

Week 4. August 15 - 19

 

 

Squirrel Hill Studio

2705-2707 Murray Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15217

 

Learn kung fu with champion masters!

Learn Chinese language, Chinese culture and more!

 

 

Register Now!

 

Register by May 31^st to get $30 off weekly tuition!

 

 

Martial Arts Day with Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, April 17.

April 17 is Martial Arts Day at PNC Park, when the Pirates play the Washington Nationals.

The first 1000 instructors and students to register will be invited to attend a special warning track ceremony on the field to recognize the Martial Arts Community. Each Martial Arts Institution is encouraged to wear their uniform to the game!

See the above flyer for additional information, and contact your school to see if it is participating.