Teng says he now feels like an MLB player

For Taiwanese right-handed pitcher Teng Kai-wei, making a MLB Opening Day roster for the first time with the Houston Astros this year helped him feel he belonged in the majors.

Recounting his journey this year at a media gathering in Taipei on Monday, Teng said beginning the season in the majors gave him more confidence than in his previous two years with the San Francisco Giants, when opportunities depended on injuries or other roster needs.

“Making the Opening Day roster made me feel like I was truly a major league player,” Teng said. “Facing those major league hitters, I felt more comfortable and confident.”

Houston Astros pitcher Teng Kai-wei pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning of their MLB game at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, on June 27.

Photo: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Teng, who turns 28 on Dec. 1, began this year in the bullpen before moving into an injury-hit rotation. He later spent time on the injured list and in the minors while working to regain his form.

In what was an uneven first year with the Astros, Teng finished with a 5-7 record and a 4.76 ERA in 30 appearances, including 10 starts. His 73 strikeouts, 73-2/3 innings and appearance total were major league career highs.

When Houston sent him down after his return from injury, the team explained that he needed further recovery and adjustments to address physical issues caused by compensating for the injury, Teng said.

“I had a clear goal and knew what I needed to do,” he said. “It wasn’t like before, when I kept thinking about when I could get back up and became too impatient.”

Teng also credited advice he received last year from Giants teammate Joey Lucchesi that helped him trust his pitches.

Teng’s approach was to focus on avoiding hitters’ hot zones, while aiming for the corners, but repeatedly missing the strike zone as a result.

“Scouting reports are only a reference. The most important thing is to believe your stuff can get them out,” Teng said.

He said Lucchesi told him: “If you pitch scared, you’ll regret it afterward.”

Teng kept that advice in mind after watching Giants teammate Robbie Ray surrender a home run to the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani in Los Angeles on Sept. 19 last year.

Ray had delivered a high, outside fastball to a location recommended in the scouting report, but Teng decided he would challenge Ohtani in the same area.

The following day, Teng struck out Ohtani on a four-seam fastball in the first inning, an experience he said gave him greater confidence against top hitters.

Teng compared himself and many teammates to Honda, a traffic police officer in the Japanese manga KochiKame, whose mild manner changes dramatically whenever he rides a motorcycle.

“Off the field, they’re really nice people, but on the field, it’s about winning and not giving in,” he said.

That attitude also informed his choice of Taiwanese singer Wu Bai’s (伍佰) Go To The Graveyard (墓仔埔也敢去), whose Taiwanese-language title roughly means “I’d even dare go to a graveyard,” as his entrance music.

Teng said he identified with its willingness to go anywhere in pursuit of a goal and wanted to face formidable opponents without fear.

He also praised Houston’s support for international players, including assistance with rental neighborhoods and Asian restaurants, and a clubhouse whiteboard featuring multilingual expressions.

On the mound, Houston allowed him to use his preferred position in the middle of the pitching rubber, rather than the more off-center position he had been asked to adopt with the Giants for particular pitches, Teng said.

As for next year — which might be delayed or even not played because of a lockout as MLB owners seek to impose a salary cap on the players — Teng would be under team control, although it is unclear if he has officially signed a contract yet.

Teng seemed confident he would be with the team next year, but said the Astros had yet to discuss whether he would start or relieve.

“If I’m only a starter, and there’s no opening up there, it’s harder,” he said. “Being able to do both gives me more opportunities.”