Although it was only one inning in a rather lopsided 7-4 game, hard-throwing 34-year-old Taiwanese right-hander Chin-hui Tsao was able to accomplish in that one inning on Thursday night what oft-troubled Dodgers reliever Chris Hatcher was unable to accomplish in one-third of an inning – get through it without allowing a run. In fact, Tsao accomplished it on only 10 pitches in a 1-2-3 eighth inning – one of only three 1-2-3 innings on the night for the Dodgers.

For those unfamiliar with Tsao, he was initially signed by the Colorado Rockies as an amateur free agent in 1999 and made his major league on July 25, 2003 as a starter. He worked 6.1 innings, allowed three runs, struck out five and walked one to pick up his first MLB win. He was the first Taiwanese born pitcher to ever compete in the MLB and on August 18, 2003 became the first Taiwanese player to get a hit. Ironically, it was the only Rockies hit that night, thus spoiling a no-hit bid by Mets right-hander Steve Trachsel. The Rockies intended to make Tsao their closer for the 2005 season but a torn labrum in his right shoulder requiring surgery forced him to miss the entire 2006 season. The Rockies elected not to re-sign Tsao after the 2006 season, thus making him a free agent.

The Dodgers signed Tsao to a one-year deal on February 1, 2007 and he appeared in 21 games – all in relief – posting an 0-1 record and 4.38 ERA. During his 24.2 innings of work he struck out 16 while walking eight and often hovered around the 100-MPH mark with his fastball. But like the Rookies, the Dodgers also elected not to re-sign him at the end of the 2007 season and he once again became a free agent. He signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals in 2008 with an invitation to spring training but never made it back to the big leagues and was released on June 3, 2008.

Chin-hui Tsao
(Photo credit – Jon-SooHoo)

Tsao returned home to Taiwan where he played for the Brother Elephants of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). In 2009 Tsao went 8-8 with a 3.93 ERA in his 93.2 innings pitched and was the losing pitcher in the seventh game of the 2009 Taiwan Series – Taiwan’s equivalent to the World Series.

In February of 2010, Tsao received a lifetime ban from the CPBL when it was discovered that he had accepted a bribe from the Taiwanese mafia for allegedly agreeing to throw two CPBL games in August 2009 for them. Although Tsao was never indicted, his professional career in Taiwan was finished. And though Tsao sought to play professionally again in Australia, the Australian Baseball League (ABL) chose to honor Taiwan’s lifetime ban against him.

Fast forward to 2015.

Prior to the 2015 season, the Dodgers inquired with (then) MLB commissioner Bud Selig to ascertain if Tsao’s lifetime ban in Taiwan (and Australia) applied to Major League Baseball. After a lengthy investigation and amidst much controversy, Selig ruled that Taiwan’s ban it did apply to the MLB and the Dodgers were given permission to sign Tsao as a free agent.

On January 3, 2015 the Dodgers signed Tsao a one-year / minor league contract and he began the season at Double-A Tulsa but was soon promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He received a major league call-up to the Dodgers on July 10, 2015 and appeared in five games, posting a 1-1 record with an unsightly 10.29 ERA. He did, however, collect one hit during his brief stint with the big league club, a double off of … wait for it … Braves left-hander Alex Wood. Tsao was subsequently sent back down to Triple-A OKC on July 25, 2015.

Although the Dodgers did not re-sign Tsao at the conclusion of the 2015 season, they did so on February 9, 2016 to yet another minor league contract. He began the season at Triple-A OKC where he was the primary closer, posting a record of 1-1, an ERA of 3.31 while earning six saves.

On Thursday the Dodgers purchased Tsao’s contract and called him back up to the big club while optioning utility infielder Charlie Culberson back to Oklahoma City.

Although there are still mixed feelings about Tsao and clouded past, he did on Thursday night what few Dodger relievers have been able to do of late (Kenley Jansen notwithstanding) – appear in a game without allowing a run. And while it is expected that Tsao will be optioned back to OKC – perhaps as early as today – maybe the Dodgers should consider keeping him around for a while.

…at least until he gives up a run.