The Pirates have gone overseas to add an intriguing prospect ahead of the MLB First-Year Player Draft next month, signing Chinese 18-year-old right-handed pitcher Hai-Cheng Gong.
Gong, who threw 1/3 inning for China against Japan in the World Baseball Classic, is the first pitcher signed by an MLB team from the Chinese Development Academy. He'll begin his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Pirates.
Gui Yuan Xu, a first baseman and outfielder, was the first position player from the academies to sign with an MLB team when the Orioles gave him a contract in 2015. He made his debut in the Gulf Coast League last season, batting .247 in 33 games.
Major League Baseball announced in 2009 it would open its first development center in China at a high school west of Shanghai. It has since opened centers in Changzhou and Nanjing, giving scholarships that include free education to student-athletes across the country.
Haicheng Gong becomes 1st pitching prospect (2nd player) trained in MLB’s China Development Centers to sign with @MLB club. pic.twitter.com/ppqujvqYls
— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2017