| Wei-Yin Chen | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Chen with the Miami Marlins in 2018 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1985-07-21)July 21, 1985 (age 40) Kaohsiung County,Taiwan | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| NPB: April 3, 2005, for the Chunichi Dragons | |
| MLB: April 10, 2012, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last appearance | |
| NPB: May 7, 2021, for the Hanshin Tigers | |
| MLB: September 28, 2019, for the Miami Marlins | |
| NPB[1] statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 37–33 |
| Earned run average | 2.60 |
| Strikeouts | 541 |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 59–51 |
| Earned run average | 4.18 |
| Strikeouts | 846 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Medals | |
Wei-Yin Chen[2] (Chinese:陳偉殷;pinyin:Chén Wěiyīn; born July 21, 1985) is a Taiwanese former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theBaltimore Orioles andMiami Marlins, and inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theChunichi Dragons,Chiba Lotte Marines, andHanshin Tigers.
Wei-Yin Chen was born inKaohsiung County,Taiwan. He attended Ciao-Tou Junior High School[3] and Kaoyuan Vocational High School, which was also attended by former Major League pitcherChin-hui Tsao and several otherTaiwanese professional baseball players.[4]
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He was a pitcher for theChunichi Dragons inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2004 through 2011. Chen hadTommy John surgery at the end of 2006 season.[5] His best season in Japan came in2009 when he posted a 1.54earned run average (ERA) to lead the league.[4] When he came out of the Nippon League,FanGraphs described him as being an extremecontrol pitcher with poor velocity.[6] A clause implemented into his contract with Chunichi allowed him to opt out after the 2011 season at age 26.[6]
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After the2011 season, Chen signed as an international free agent with theBaltimore Orioles.[7] Chen was the first Taiwanese player ever signed by the Orioles.[8] He made his MLB debut on April 10, 2012, against theNew York Yankees in Baltimore. The game was broadcast live on national television in native Taiwan,[9] and Chen totaled 52⁄3 innings and gave up two earned runs striking out six in a no-decision that the Orioles would later go on to lose in extra innings.[10] In total, Chen finished the season leading the team with 32 starts during which he totaled 12 wins and 11 losses and posted an ERA of 4.02 in 192.2 innings pitched.[11] In 2012, Chen was "the only constant in the (Orioles) rotation" and was consistent throughout the year.[12]Chen finished fourth in the AL for Rookie of the Year voting.
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Coming out of spring training, Chen won the number two spot in the Orioles' starting rotation behindJason Hammel.[13] Chen set a goal to throw 200 innings on the season. In his first three starts, he lacked run support and went 0–2 despite posting a 4.00 ERA.[14] On May 15, 2013, the Orioles placed Chen on the disabled list, his first-ever stint there, with an injury to his right oblique.[15] In his return from the disabled list on July 10, 2013, Chen pitched seven innings in a matchup against theTexas Rangers striking out four and allowing three hits, earning the win.[16] Overall in 2013, Chen finished 7–7 with a 4.07 ERA in 23 starts. During the 2013 off-season, Chen underwent knee surgery to remove bone spurs.
Chen pitched a season-high of eight strikeouts in a win against theSeattle Mariners on August 1, 2014. He dedicated the win to victims of the2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions, which occurred hours earlier in his hometown.[17] On September 10, Chen picked up his 15th win of the season against theBoston Red Sox and carried aperfect game into the sixth inning untilDan Butler's first major league hit.[18] Chen finished the season with a 16–6 record and 3.54 ERA over185+2⁄3 innings.[19] In game 3 of the2014 ALCS on October 14, Chen pitched5+1⁄3 innings on 80 pitches and gave up 2 runs in a loss against theKansas City Royals.
On June 26, 2015, Chen became the second Taiwanese-born player to have 100 career starts in the major leagues (afterChien-Ming Wang), allowing two runs and striking out five over six innings in a no decision against theCleveland Indians.[20] Despite only recording a 4–5 record at the break, Chen pitched to a 2.78 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP, along with 90 strikeouts in 110 innings over the first half of the season. Chen finished the season with an 11–8 record and a career-best 3.34 ERA over191+1⁄3 innings pitched.[21][22]
On January 13, 2016, Chen agreed to a five-year contract worth US$80 million with theMiami Marlins. Chen was named the starting pitcher for the opening day of the2016 season, becoming the second Taiwanese pitcher to make a start on opening day sinceChien-Ming Wang in 2008.[23] On January 25, 2017, Chen was announced as the cover athlete for the Taiwanese version ofMLB The Show 17.[24] In his first season as a Marlin, Chen went 5–5 in 22 starts after spending some time on the disabled list with an injury. He posted the worst ERA of his career, finishing at 4.96 in 123 innings.
On April 8, Chen hit his first major league hit, an infield single off ofNew York Mets starterZack Wheeler. He was placed on the disabled list after 5 starts due to a partialUCLtear. Chen was activated off the disabled list on September 4 and would pitch out of thebullpen. In nine total appearances (five starts) for the year, he logged a 2-1 record and 3.82 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 33 innings of work.[25]
Chen made his first start on April 28 against theColorado Rockies after going almost a year without a big league start, getting the win after pitching5+1⁄3 innings, in which he giving up just one run on four hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. On July 24, Chen hit his first major league double off ofAtlanta Braves starterJulio Teherán. He made 26 starts for Miami during the season, compiling a 6-12 record and 4.79 ERA with 111 strikeouts across133+1⁄3 innings pitched.[26]
Chen made 45 appearances out of the bullpen for the Marlins in 2019, but struggled to an 0-1 record and 6.59 ERA with 63 strikeouts across68+1⁄3 innings of work.[27] Chen wasdesignated for assignment by Miami on November 20, 2019.[28] He was released and became a free agent after clearing waivers on November 27.[29]
On January 30, 2020, Chen signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners.[30] Chen was released by the Mariners organization on June 25.[31] Despite being released, Chen was the highest-paid baseball player of the2020 MLB season at $22 million.[32]
On September 22, 2020, Chen signed with theChiba Lotte Marines ofNippon Professional Baseball.[33] In four starts for Lotte, he posted an 0-3 record and 2.42 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 26 innings of work. On December 2, Chen became a free agent.[34]
On December 22, 2020, Chen signed with theHanshin Tigers of NPB for the 2021 season.[35] He made only two appearances for the main club, logging a 1–0 record and 3.86 ERA with 7 strikeouts across9+1⁄3 innings pitched. Chen was released by Hanshin on June 29, 2022, after only pitching in theWestern League during the year.
On April 2, 2024, Chen signed with theLong Island Ducks of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[36] In 17 starts for the Ducks, Chen struggled to a 5–5 record and 6.37 ERA with 63 strikeouts across87+2⁄3 innings pitched.[37] He became a free agent following the season.
Chen announced his retirement from professional baseball on February 26, 2025. At his retirement, he led all Taiwanese Major League Baseball pitchers in innings pitched (1,064+2⁄3) and games started (170), and was second toChien-Ming Wang in wins (59).[37] Chen disclosed that he had decided against joining Taiwan'sChinese Professional Baseball League during his playing career as he was unsure if the CPBL would allow him to return to baseball leagues overseas.[38]
Chen played for theTaiwanese national team in the2004 and2008 Olympic Games.[39]
Chen was an "extremeflyball pitcher", at one point having an HR/9 innings of 1.3, way above MLB average.[40] Chen pitched from a three-quarters arm slot and threw a four-seam fastball averaging 91–92 mph (which topped out at 95–96 mph).[41] In addition, he threw a two-seamer, aslider, achangeup, and an occasionalcurveball.[41] Since he previously pitched in Japan where he started on five days rest rather than four, with the Orioles he initially had durability issues and was 0–4 in his last seven starts in 2012.[42] Chen has been described as a legitimate middle-of-the-rotation starter.[43][44] An opposing scout said, "I watched Wei-Yin Chen and swore I was watchingTom Glavine. He has such an effortless delivery and an above-average change up, and knows how to pitch inside."[45]
In 2012, Chen started a baseball scholarship program for Taiwanese students, contributing funds based on statistical milestones reached per season. He expanded the charity's efforts in 2015, to cover animal protection and children's welfare.[3]
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