# Taiwanese MLB players: Deng and Li set records > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/taiwanese-players-in-mlb > Updated: 2026-09-06T23:55:58.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 13. The summer of 2026 has been defined by the historic performances of Taiwanese MLB players Deng Kai-wei and Li Hao-yu. In mid-June, the two made history in the first MLB game to feature a pitcher-batter showdown between two Taiwanese players, though Deng was charged with the loss after allowing five runs. Following that outing, Deng was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land to accommodate pitching staff changes. He later returned from a right-knee injury in July, posting 2.1 scoreless innings for the Astros against the Orioles to lower his ERA to 4.21. Simultaneously, Tigers infielder Li Hao-yu has undergone a significant offensive surge. After breaking a ten-at-bat slump on July 10, Li embarked on a record-breaking hitting streak that reached 11 games. In mid-August, Li tied the MLB single-season record for hits by a Taiwanese player, previously held by Chang Yu-cheng, by recording his 54th hit against the Chicago White Sox. He subsequently surpassed the record, reaching 60 hits during a game against the Kansas City Royals on August 23. During that matchup, he hit a solo home run off pitcher Michael Wacha that traveled an estimated 446 feet, marking a career-high distance. By early September, Li extended his power display by hitting his eighth home run of the season, a 439-foot solo shot against the Minnesota Twins. This performance highlighted his season-high exit velocity of 112.2 mph and placed him within reach of the single-season home run record for Taiwanese players, currently held by Chang Yu-Cheng at nine. On September 6, Li’s streak of 17 consecutive starts ended when he was omitted from the starting lineup during a home game against the Twins. Despite this, Li remains close to several single-season records held by Chang Yu-chien, currently sitting at 31 runs scored, 8 home runs, and 37 RBIs. ## Claims - Li Hao-yu recorded 3 hits and 2 walks in a single game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Li Hao-yu reached base in all 5 plate appearances during the game. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Li Hao-yu reached 57 hits this season, surpassing Chang Yu-chien's single-season record of 54 hits for a Taiwanese player in MLB. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Detroit Tigers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates with a score of 8-5. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Lee Hao-yu hit his eighth home run of the season. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The home run hit against Taj Bradley traveled 439 feet. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Detroit Tigers lost to the Minnesota Twins 11-1. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Li Hao-yu is the first Taiwanese player to reach base five times in a single MLB game. (single source) - Li Hao-yu is the second Taiwanese player to start at the number 4 spot in the MLB lineup since Chen Chin-feng in 2002. (single source) - Li Hao-yu holds a record for the longest hitting streak by a Taiwanese player in MLB with 12 consecutive games. (single source) - Chang Yu-chien praised Li Hao-yu's ability to overcome communication challenges and seize opportunities. (single source) - Lee Hao-yu's exit velocity on the home run was 109.6 mph. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-06: Li Hao-yu's 17-game starting streak ends with Detroit Tigers Detroit Tigers' Li Hao-yu's 17-game starting streak ended as he moved closer to Taiwanese MLB single-season records for runs, home runs, and RBIs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/li-hao-yus-17-game-starting-streak-ends-with-detroit-tigers ### 2026-09-01: Lee Hao-yu hits eighth home run in Tigers loss to Twins Lee Hao-yu hit his eighth home run of the season, a 439-foot blast, as the Detroit Tigers suffered an 11-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lee-hao-yu-hits-eighth-home-run-in-tigers-loss-to-twins ### 2026-08-23: Li Hao-yu hits career-long 446-foot home run Detroit Tigers' Li Hao-yu hit a career-long 446-foot home run, his seventh of the season, as the Tigers fell 1-3 to the Kansas City Royals. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/li-hao-yu-hits-career-long-446-foot-home-run ### 2026-08-18: Lee Chang-yu sets new MLB record for most hits by a Taiwanese player Taiwanese MLB player Lee Chang-yu set a new record for most single-season hits by a Taiwanese player in MLB history during a game between the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/li-hao-yu-sets-new-mlb-single-season-hit-record-for-taiwanese-players ### 2026-08-16: Li Hao-yu ties MLB single-season hit record for Taiwanese players Detroit Tigers' Li Hao-yu tied Chang Yu-cheng's record for most single-season hits by a Taiwanese player in MLB, reaching 54 hits. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/li-hao-yu-ties-mlb-single-season-hit-record-for-taiwanese-players ### 2026-07-26: Lee Haoyu Extends Taiwanese MLB Hitting Streak to 11 Games Lee Haoyu set an 11‑game hitting streak, the longest for a Taiwanese MLB player, and hit his sixth home run in a loss to the Royals, earning praise from Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lee-haoyu-extends-taiwanese-mlb-hitting-streak-to-11-games ### 2026-07-24: Li Haoyu sets MLB record with eighth straight hit as Tigers defeat Royals Li Haoyu’s eighth straight hit lifts Detroit Tigers to a 4‑3 win over the Royals, breaking a Taiwanese MLB record. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/li-haoyu-sets-mlb-record-with-eighth-straight-hit-as-tigers-defeat-royals ### 2026-07-22: Detroit Tigers' Taiwanese Li Hao-Yu hits record-tying homer vs Cubs Detroit Tigers' Taiwanese Li Hao‑Yu hit a 389‑ft, 105.9 mph three‑run homer to beat the Cubs 5‑1, tying Lin Tzu‑Wei’s career hit total and extending his hit streak to seven games; he credits a mindset shift for 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/detroit-tigers-taiwanese-li-hao-yu-hits-record-tying-homer-vs-cubs ### 2026-07-20: Houston Astros reliever Deng Kawei returns from injury, throws scoreless 2.1 innings Houston Astros reliever Deng Kawei returned from a knee injury, pitched 2.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, but the team lost 5‑2 to the Baltimore Orioles. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/houston-astros-reliever-deng-kawei-returns-from-injury-throws-scoreless-21-innings ### 2026-07-10: Detroit Tigers beat Guardians 4-1 as Taiwan's Li Haoyu ends hitless streak The Tigers beat the Guardians 4-1, snapping Li Haoyu's 10‑at‑bat slump and featuring a debut home run by rookie Eduardo Valencia. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/detroit-tigers-beat-guardians-4-1-as-taiwans-li-haoyu-ends-hitless-streak ### 2026-06-28: Deng Kawei sent to Triple‑A after short start as Taiwanese duel with Lee Haoyu highlights MLB game Taiwanese pitcher Deng Kawei was demoted after a 3.2‑inning start in an Astros‑Tigers game, while teammate Lee Haoyu hit a homer and shone defensively; Houston won 8‑6. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/deng-kawei-sent-to-triplea-after-short-start-as-taiwanese-duel-with-lee-haoyu-highlights-mlb-game ### 2026-06-26: Taiwanese MLB players Li Haoyu shines as Deng Kai‑wei sent to Triple‑A Detroit’s Li Haoyu logged a five‑game hitting streak while Houston’s Taiwanese pitcher Deng Kai‑wei was optioned to Triple‑A after his start. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/detroit-tigers-taiwanese-rookie-li-hao-yu-records-five-game-hitting-streak ### 2026-06-16: Taiwanese pitcher Deng Kai-wei meets batter Li Hao-yu in MLB's first Taiwan vs. Taiwan duel Houston Astros' Deng Kai‑wei started against Detroit, marking MLB's first pitcher‑batter face‑off between two Taiwanese players; he struck out a career‑high nine but gave up five runs, and Li Hao‑yu recorded a 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/taiwanese-pitcher-deng-kai-wei-meets-batter-li-hao-yu-in-mlbs-first-taiwan-vs-taiwan-duel --- Cite as: Taiwanese MLB players: Deng and Li set records. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/taiwanese-players-in-mlb