RAY CHANG

8/24/83; NDFA '05 (San Diego); Rockhurst Univ.
R/R; 6-1, 195

Level
BA
OBP
SA
AB
2B
3B
HR
BB
K
SB
CS
2005 A+ (SD)
.500
.500
.500
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2005 R (SD)
.167
.255
.208
48
2
0
0
5
12
0
0
2006 AAA (SD)
.222
.263
.556
18
1
1
1
1
7
0
0
2006 AA (SD)
.233
.227
.302
43
3
0
0
0
8
0
0
2006 A (SD)
.286
.409
.429
91
4
0
3
16
19
0
1
2007 AAA (SD)
.262
.316
.360
267
17
0
3
17
58
1
2
2007 A+ (SD)
.304
.355
.482
56
3
2
1
3
6
0
0
2008 AAA (SD)
.100
.308
.100
10
0
0
0
2
4
0
0
2008 AA (SD)
.262
.360
.415
65
10
0
0
8
8
0
0
2008 AA
.333
.500
.500
6
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
2009 AA
.291
.383
.449
152
14
0
2
15
16
1
2
2009 A+
.303
.387
.377
144
9
0
0
14
14
1
1

The Pirates signed Chang after the Padres let him go and sent him to Altoona.  The Pirates were short on infielders at the time and no doubt needed Chang as infield depth, which is the role he's served during his career.  He ended up getting hurt and playing in only five games.  I managed to see one of them and he didn't look very good at SS, but it was just one game.  He's nowhere near eligible for minor league free agency, so he'll be back, no doubt as an organizational infielder.  He got some attention playing shortstop and going 5-for-11 in China's brief appearance in the World Baseball Classic.

Chang opened 2009 with Lynchburg and played semi-regularly as a utility infielder, splitting his time more or less evenly among second, third and short.  He hit well and moved up to Altoona around mid-season, where he filled the same role.  He hit even better at Altoona, showing good gap power.  He's a line drive hitter who frequently makes hard contact.  He's a solid defensive player—he made only one error all year—but he doesn't have the range for short.  Chang will be 26 at the start of the 2001 season, so it's impossible to consider him a prospect, but it'd be interesting to see him get a shot at AAA.  It may not be with the Pirates, though, as he became a minor league free agent after the season.  I don't know how that came about given his service time, but it'd be nice if the Pirates could re-sign him. 

Return to Shortstops