Jung Jong-chol, who was DFA'd by the Pittsburgh Pirates, was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays.

According to official MLB transaction reports, infielder Jung Jong-chol, previously designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates, has been selected off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays and reinstated to their 40-man roster. He will don the Rays uniform in the upcoming season, continuing his career in the United States.

Jung Jong-chol’s former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, completed a three-team trade on December 20 last year, acquiring three players including star second baseman Brandon Lowe. To clear space on the 40-man roster, Jung was designated for assignment (DFA). After the waiver process, he was claimed by the Rays, successfully returning to a major league 40-man roster.

Looking back at the 2025 season, Jung Jong-chol briefly appeared in the major leagues, playing 3 games with 7 at-bats without a hit, before being sent down to Triple-A for adjustments. He mainly played at the Triple-A level throughout the season (with 3 games at Single-A), totaling 107 games with a batting average of .209 and an OPS of .578. Although his offensive stats were modest, he stole 20 bases in a single season and maintained good plate discipline and walk rates, making him a valuable and competitive asset within the team system.

Jung Jong-chol has repeatedly expressed a strong desire to represent Chinese Taipei in the 2026 6th World Baseball Classic. Whether his move to a new team will affect his participation plans remains a key point of interest moving forward.