A new face at the Houston Astros’ training camp is quietly making a remarkable story ahead of the 2026 season. Taiwanese pitcher Kai-Wei Teng – who joined Houston in an early trade – has publicly stated his big goal: he wants to be a starter in the Astros’ rotation, not just a bullpen.

This message quickly caught the attention of MLB experts, because Teng isn’t just trying to earn a spot on the roster – he’s aiming for a much bigger role.

Soon after arriving at the Astros’ Spring Training camp in Florida, Teng experienced something that truly surprised him.

Houston’s pitching coaches prepared a detailed analysis with data, charts, and videos to help him understand how to improve his efficiency using his full pitching arsenal.

For Teng, this was something he had never experienced in previous organizations.

“That really impressed me,” Teng shared through an interpreter. “I was very impressed.”

The Astros have long been known as one of MLB’s best pitching development teams, and from the very beginning, Teng sensed that.

Houston acquired Teng in January 2026 when they traded him to the San Francisco Giants, exchanging him for young catcher Jancel Villarroel.

At the time, the trade didn’t generate much buzz.

Teng only had limited MLB experience after two seasons with the Giants, where he had a 2-4 record with a 6.37 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 29⅔ innings in the 2025 season.

But Houston saw something different:

A pitcher with a five-pitch arsenal

A sharp breaking ball

And the ability to be a swingman – both a starter and a reliever

That led the Astros to believe they could develop Teng into a valuable asset in their pitching staff.

Before coming to MLB, Teng was almost always a starter in the Minor League.

The pitcher, born in 1998 in Taichung, Taiwan, built his career as a starting pitcher in the farm system of the Minnesota Twins and then the Giants.

However, in the last two seasons in MLB, he has started to be used more in the bullpen.

In his last 12 MLB appearances, he’s only been used as a starter in 7 games, including the last six of last season.

That experience has taught Teng how to adapt to various roles.

But deep down, his goal has never changed.

“I still want to be a starter.”

When asked about his desired role with the Astros, Teng didn’t hesitate to share his ambition.

He admitted that his bullpen experience helped him mature, but his ultimate goal remains returning to his familiar position.

“Being a starter has always been what I wanted to do,” Teng said.

However, he also understands that the path to Houston’s rotation isn’t easy.

The Astros have one of the strongest pitching teams in the American League, and any pitcher wanting to break into the rotation has to prove a lot.

Despite the fierce competition, Teng has one crucial advantage: versatility.

Astros coaches appreciate his ability to pitch in various pitches and adapt to multiple roles, making him an interesting addition to the pitching lineup.

Some MLB experts even believe Teng could start the season as a swingman, capable of:

Throwing long relief pitches

Starting some games when needed

Or becoming a bullpen weapon in crucial situations

If he proves his consistency, the door to rotation is entirely open.

Teng also holds special significance for baseball fans in Taiwan.

He is one of the few Taiwanese pitchers currently competing in the MLB, and his joining a major organization like the Astros has led many to closely follow his journey.

The 27-year-old pitcher has represented the Chinese Taipei team in numerous international tournaments, including the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Now, he’s entering the newest chapter of his career – and perhaps his biggest opportunity yet.

In MLB, many pitchers have started as relatively unknown names before bursting onto the scene in the right environment.

The Astros hope Teng can be the next case.

With Houston’s renowned pitching system and Teng’s own aspirations to be a starter, this story could be one of the most exciting surprises of the 2026 season.

For now, one thing is clear.

Kai-Wei Teng didn’t come to Houston just to fill a bullpen spot.

He came with a bigger goal: to earn a place in the Astros’ rotation – and prove he deserves a starting spot on the mound in MLB.