Unicorn reliever from Taiwan may be perfect gamble for SF Giants bullpen

As the SF Giants look to improve their bullpen after it was a big, glaring issue in 2026, most of the solutions being pitched, including those proposed by myself, have been focused on MLB pitchers. What if they turned to the international market in an effort to improve their relief corps?

One really interesting arm to keep an eye on is Jyun-Yue Tseng. He was just posted by his team from Taiwan and is 5-foot-8 while weighing 150 pounds, yet he has a fastball that reaches the upper-90s.

That sort of makes him something of a rare unicorn since typically guys with a build like that are not able to generate that much velocity. Giants fans are more than accustomed to undersized pitchers getting the most out of their body, though.

In 2026 with the Fubon Guardians, Tseng allowed nine earned runs in 48 appearances and struck out 65 batters. He recorded 25 saves which was the most for him in one season in his career. He also pitched in the World Baseball Classic for Taiwan and recorded two scoreless innings while recording one save.

He is just 25 years old so he could be a really interesting young project for the Giants. They probably wouldn’t want him to start out as a closer right away, but if they sign him thinking he could start off as a sixth inning arm who could potentially work his way up into higher-leverage situations, that wouldn’t be a bad signing at all.

Giants should probably have a nearly complete bullpen makeover

The Giants may need to act quickly to add bullpen help after one closer option is already off the board and Tseng probably wouldn’t come at too steep of a price. If they could get him on an affordable two or three-year contract then they should definitely pull the trigger, but if he goes unsigned then he may remain in Taiwan or choose to pitch in Japan.

As things currently stand, there really aren't likely to be a ton of holdovers from last season. Randy Rodriguez will be back from injury if everything goes according to plan, and the Giants have decisions to make on Sam Hentges and Camilo Doval. Trent Harris and Dylan Smith certainly did enough to warrant consideration but they may start the year in the minors depending on how many arms the Giants add.

Tseng shouldn’t represent the beginning and end of their bullpen makeover, but bringing him into the mix while also adding some experienced bullpen arms could go a long way towards making San Francisco’s bullpen at least somewhat reliable in 2027. 

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