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Chin-hui Tsao (Traditional Chinese: 曹錦輝; pinyin: Cáo Jǐnhūi), born June 2, 1981, in Hualien County, Taiwan, is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is the second major league player of Taiwanese origin, and like the first, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Chin-Feng Chen, he is part Taiwanese aborigine (Ami).^[1]

Tsao pitched for his country in five major international competitions, including the Junior World Championships (1996-97, 99), the 1999 Asia Cup and the 2004 Summer Olympics. He made two appearances at the Olympics, going 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA and one save. At the 1999 Asia Cup, he dominated: making three appearances (11 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 19 strikeouts), fanning 15 batters in his one start against China.

Tsao has one of Taiwan's best pitching arms. In the 2004 Olympics at Athens, he was clocked at 162km/h (101mph) at the park and 159km/h (99mph)on the TV gun.

After graduating from high school in summer 1999, Tsao briefly played for Taiwan Major League's Kaohsiung-Pingtung Fala before he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Colorado Rockies on October 19, 1999. Tsao pitched in Rockies' farm system team Asheville Tourists in 2000, starting 24 games and accumulating a record of 11-8 with a 2.73 ERA with a whopping 187 strikeouts against only 40 walks. He was selected as Baseball America's 2nd team Minor League All-Star, Low A All-Star, Colorado Rockies Minor League Player of the Year, South Atlantic League All-Star, and South Atlantic League Most Valuable Pitcher.

He played in only four games in 2001 for High A Salem before undergoing reconstructive right elbow surgery on May 23. Rejoined the team late in the 2002 season and made 9 starts (4-2, 2.09).

Finally healthy, he started 2003 for "AA" Tulsa, compiling a 11-4 record with a 2.46 era in 18 starts, striking out 125 against only 26 walks. He earned a spot on the Double-A All-Star team and was a Texas League All-Star.

Made his major league debut for the Rockies against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 25, 2003 as a starter. He worked 6.1 innings, allowed 3 runs, struck out 5 and walked one as he picked up his first victory in the Rockies 7-3 win. He was the first Taiwanese pitcher to ever compete in a Major League game when he took the mound that night.

Injuries and his commitment to the Chinese Taipei Olympic team limited him to just 10 appearances in the Rockies bullpen in 2004 but he earned his first professional save on September 29, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Rockies intended to make him their regular closer for the 2005 season, but Tsao was sidelined by a pair of right shoulder injuries that eventually required season-ending surgery. His recovery from the surgery (for a torn labrum and a debridement of the right rotator cuff) caused him to miss the entire 2006 season and led to the Rockies letting him leave as a free agent following the season. ^[2]

Tsao was picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers and invited to compete for a roster spot out of the bullpen. He earned a spot and pitched 10 1/3 scoreless innings before faltering and allowing 5 runs in 2/3 of an inning on May 6. ^[3]

He suffered from injury problems again during the 2007 season, missing the second half of the season due to injury. After the season, the Dodgers optioned him to the minors but he refused the assignment and became a free agent.

• Career statistics and player information from
• Chin-hui Tsao at ESPN.com
• Frank's Field of Dreams - Chin-Hui Tsao

1. ^ [1],
2. ^ "Rockies tender contract offers to RHP Josh Fogg and C Yorvit Torrealba", 12/12/2006, rockies.com
3. ^ Gurnick, Ken "Bullpen falters in seventh inning", 05/06/2007, dodgers.com