On Friday night August 8, 2025, when much of the fanfare surrounded top outfielder prospect Drew Gilbert’s MLB debut, a fellow rookie, Taiwanese San Francisco Giants RHP Kai-Wei Teng, stole the show.
Teng took over after opener Matt Gage’s clean first inning and dominated for the bulk of the game. The rookie righty threw 5 innings and gave up no runs on 3 hits and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts, collecting his first ever MLB win. He was the biggest reason why the Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 5-0.
Teng is currently filling in for injured Giants No. 3 starter Landen Roupp. Many Giants fans were against Teng taking the mound because his stats in 5 previous MLB games are not great.
To be fair to those Giants fans, Teng struggled his first outing of the season with the Giants, which was also his first career MLB start. He made it through only 3.1 innings and surrendered 5 runs, taking the loss in an ugly 12-6 beatdown against the New York Mets.
Teng also has an arsenal uncommon to the modern era of major league baseball. His fastball only reaches just above 90 miles per hour, and he relies heavily on his large arsenal of very slow off-speed pitches and hitting his spots to get outs. It’s reminiscent of a bygone era.
But Teng silenced his detractors Friday. If he continues to perform like he did against the Nationals, Teng may prove he deserves a spot in the Giants rotation next season.
Teng’s Father’s Day Inspiration
Getting his first win on Friday, August 8 was extra special for Teng because August 8 was also Father’s Day in his native Taiwan.
Teng used his platform in his postgame interview to send a loving message home to his father.
“I want to thank my dad for supporting me over the past 18 years in anything,” Teng said through interpreter Andy Lin. “I want to say ‘I love you’ to my dad.”
Teng added that he believed his father was watching back home in Taiwan. He’s undoubtedly more proud than anyone to see his son get his first MLB win. What an incredible father’s day present!
But it’s not just Teng’s father that was celebrating on Friday. Teng is only the ninth pitcher born in Taiwan to earn an MLB win, and the first since Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Wei-Chung Wang won a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019.
So Teng is certainly a hero in his home country as well. And now, he has the Giants fanbase behind him too.
If he continues to pitch well, Teng’s story could be one of the best of the 2025 Giants season.
Gilbert Had A Highlight Reel Moment, Too
The player fans thought would be the Giants rookie of the night, Drew Gilbert certainly didn’t have the MLB Debut he dreamed of at the plate.
He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, unable to collect his first MLB hit.
But he still made an immediate impression on Giants fans with a highlight-reel diving catch in right field.
Gilbert immediately gets another chance to make an impact at the plate on Saturday August 9, 2025. He’s in the lineup batting eighth and playing right field against pitcher Brad Lord and the Nationals.
Giants fans, what did you think of Drew Gilbert’s debut and Kai-Wei Teng’s pitching performance?
Underestimated Rookie Steals the Show For San Francisco Giants