Wei-Yin Chen

Wei-Yin Chen (born July 21, 1985) is a Taiwanese former professional baseball pitcher.

He played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins, and in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons, Chiba Lotte Marines and Hanshin Tigers.

He was a pitcher for the Chunichi Dragons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2004 through 2011.

Chen had Tommy John surgery at the end of 2006 season.

His best season in Japan came in 2009 when he posted a 1.54 earned run average (ERA) to lead the league.

When he came out of the Nippon League, FanGraphs described him as being an extreme control pitcher with poor velocity.

On September 10, Chen picked up his 15th win of the season against the Boston Red Sox and carried a perfect game into the sixth inning until Dan Butler's first major league hit.

Chen finished the season with a 16–6 record and 3.54 ERA over 185 2⁄3 innings.

A clause implemented into his contract with Chunichi allowed him to opt out after the 2011 season at age 26.

After the 2011 season, Chen signed as an international free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.

Chen was the first Taiwanese player ever signed by the Orioles.

He made his MLB debut on April 10, 2012, against the New York Yankees in Baltimore.

The game was broadcast live on national television in native Taiwan, 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.

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.

In 2012, Chen was "the only constant in the (Orioles) rotation" and was consistent throughout the year.

Chen finished fourth in the AL for Rookie of the Year voting.

Coming out of spring training, Chen won the number two spot in the Orioles' starting rotation behind Jason Hammel.

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.

On May 15, 2013, the Orioles placed Chen on the disabled list, his first-ever stint there, with an injury to his right oblique.

In his return from the disabled list on July 10, 2013, Chen pitched seven innings in a matchup against the Texas Rangers striking out four and allowing three hits, earning the win.

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 the Seattle Mariners on August 1, 2014.

He dedicated the win to victims of the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions, which occurred hours earlier in his hometown.

In game 3 of the 2014 ALCS on October 14, Chen pitched 5 1⁄3 innings on 80 pitches and gave up 2 runs in a loss against the Kansas City Royals.

Chen became the first Taiwanese pitcher to start an ALCS game.

On June 26, 2015, Chen became the second Taiwanese-born player to have 100 career starts in the major leagues (after Chien-Ming Wang), allowing two runs and striking out five over six innings in a no decision against the Cleveland Indians.

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 over 191 1⁄3 innings pitched.

On January 13, 2016, Chen agreed to a five-year contract worth US$80 million with the Miami Marlins.

Chen was named the starting pitcher for the opening day of the 2016 season, becoming the second Taiwanese pitcher to make a start on opening day since Chien-Ming Wang in 2008.

On January 25, 2017, Chen was announced as the cover athlete for the Taiwanese version of MLB The Show 17.

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 New York starter Zack Wheeler.

He was placed on the disabled list after 5 starts due to a partial UCL tear.

Because Chen was released from his guaranteed contract a few months before the 2020 MLB season was delayed due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Chen was the highest-paid baseball player that year at $22 million.

Wei-Yin Chen was born in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan.

He attended Ciao-Tou Junior High School and Kaoyuan Vocational High School, which was also attended by former Major League pitcher Tsao Chin-Hui and several other Chinese Professional Baseball League players.