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BOSTON Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy mentioned Monday that shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng goes by the nickname Z.
Just the letter Z, Tracy said.
I dont know why we do that, but thats what he said in spring training: People call me Z.
So we go with Z.
On Tuesday, the Taiwan native explained the nickname dates back to when he attended MLBs Development Center in China while he was in high school.
They didnt use my name from the passport, he said.
They used my name from Google translate.
Cheng, 24, said Google translate spelled his name: Zong-Zhe Zheng.
There was a coach.
He just called me Z.
And he said, This is your nickname, Cheng recalled.
I was in high school.
OK, you call me Z, Im Z.
Its as simple as that.
He has been Z ever since.
Cheng, who Boston claimed off waivers from the Nationals in February, will start at shortstop against the Nationals on Tuesday.
He has started four games at shortstop since Boston recalled him from Triple-A Worcester on June 26 to take injured shortstop Marcelo Mayers spot on the roster.
He recorded both his first MLB hit and his first career RBI on Friday against the Yankees.
Baseball America ranked Cheng as high as Pittsburghs No.
7 overall prospect in 2024.
The publication graded his fielding and arm both 55 (above-average) on its 20-80 grading scale.
Cheng made his MLB debut for Pittsburgh last year and appeared in three games for the Pirates.
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