Wei-Yin Chen

From BR Bullpen

Wei-Yin Chen

Bats Left, Throws Left
Height 6' 0", Weight 176 lb.

School National College of Physical Education and Sports

Born July 21, 1985 in Kaohsiung County Taiwan

Wei-Yin Chen pitched for Taiwan in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and plays for the Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese professional league, where he struggled for three years before improving in 2008. His fastball has been timed at a peak of 94.4 mph.

Chen was on the Taiwan roster for the 2002 Intercontinental Cup but did not pitch a game in the tournament. He played for Taiwan in the 2003 Asian Championship and 2003 Baseball World Cup, going 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA in a team-high 5 games. He led Taiwan in innings (18), strikeouts (9) and hits allowed (19). In the 2004 Olympics, he threw two hitless innings, walking one and striking out one, in relief of Wei-Lun Pan in a 5-1 win over the Dutch national team, who had two former big-leaguers in the line-up.

The Chunichi Dragons signed Chen for a $850,000 bonus including incentives. He made his NPB debut in 2005 and was ineffective. In 10 games, he had a 6.05 ERA and a save, allowing 29 hits, 6 walks and 2 wild pitches in 19 1/3 innings, though he struck out 20. He was 1 for 3 at the plate. Chen did not pitch for Chunichi's top club in 2006-2007.

Chen pitched 7 shutout innings against the Dutch national team for a win in the 2008 Olympics, as Taiwan beat one of their closer rivals in recent events. He was less effective against Team Canada, giving up 4 runs in 3 1/3 IP in a no-decision as Taiwan topped Canada to clinch 5th place. Chen hurt his own cause, making a throwing error on a bunt by Emmanuel Garcia, allowing Adam Stern to score. Chen had the 4th-lowest ERA on the Taiwan staff in Beijing and got one of the two Taiwan wins.