Haicheng Gong

Haicheng Gong (宮海成) (Sea)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 168 lb.

• Born December 28, 1998 in Bengbu China

BR register page

Biographical Information

Haicheng Gong was one of the first Chinese players in the affiliated minors.

Gong played for China in the 2016 U-18 Asian Championship and was named the top right-handed pitcher, the only Chinese player on the All-Star team. He was one of two players at the MLB Development Center in China to make the Chinese national team for the 2017 World Baseball Classic, alongside Yanpeng Chen. He got into one game, relieving Weiqiang Meng in the bottom of the 8th with a 7-1 deficit against Japan. He allowed a Shogo Akiyama single then Shota Ohno hit into a force. Kun Chen relieved and retired the next two batters.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed him in May; he was the second player and first pitcher signed from the MLB Development Center as Gui Yuan Xu had signed previously. The scout was Fu-Chun Chiang. He had a rough MLB debut for the GCL Pirates, relieving Kleiner Machado with a 2-0 deficit in the top of the 7th against the GCL Braves and allowing 6 hits and 5 runs (4 earned) in 1 1/3 IP. He was 1-0 with a save and a 3.52 ERA in his next ten outings, though. He then joined China for the 2018 Asian Games. While the team had many players active in the US independent leagues with the Texas AirHogs, Gong was their only player from the affiliated minors.