Position: RHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 187 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 10/02/2001
Country: Taiwan
How Acquired: International Free Agent, 2020
Bonus: $1,000,000
40-Man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2024
Minor League Free Agency: 2027
Options Left: 3
Overview
Chen was a prominent signing for the Pirates, as the bonus shows. When he was signed, he threw in the low-90s with a variety of other pitches. Currently, he throws a four-seam fastball, a sinker, a change, a curve and a cutter. Chen was advanced for a pitcher his age and has generally shown good command as a pro. There may be some question about his projection. By 2022, he was throwing 93-94 at least some of the time, but his velocity has been up and down. One issue is that his fastball has been too hittable so far. Chen’s change is very good, but one or more of his other pitches need to improve.
2021-22
Chen made six starts in the FCL and his advanced command was too much for the hitters there. He didn’t walk a batter in 26 innings, as he evidently had great success getting batters to hit, or miss, his pitch. The Pirates moved him up to Bradenton and he had a lot more trouble. He threw seven shutout innings in one start, but struggled in his other three. The batters at that level were better able to lay off pitches just out of the strike zone. He may have been tired, also, as his velocity with Bradenton was mostly 89-91 after reportedly being up as high as 95 in the FCL.
In 2022, Chen spent the entire season in the Bradenton rotation. He had a puzzling season, as he more or less alternated starts in which he dominated with ones in which he got hit around a good bit. He generally threw strikes and missed a good number of bats. Opponents put up an OPS of .678 against him, which was just under the league average of .687.
2023-24
Chen spent 2023 in the Greensboro rotation and had almost exactly the same season as 2022: his ERA went from 4.58 to 4.44, his BB/9 from 3.3 to 3.2, and his K/9 from 9.4 to 9.3. The only difference came in opponents getting more hits and more home runs against him, which were offset by a much higher strand rate. The home park did not play a factor, as Chen pitched better there than on the road. A bad stretch at the end hurt Chen’s numbers; in his last four starts, he gave up 15 earned runs in 13 innings. Before that stretch, his ERA was 3.71.
In 2024, Chen moved up to Altoona and had a similar season. He easily led the Curve in starts (25) and innings (134). His season came in segments. Through May 21, he had an ERA of 6.11. From then through July 25 it was 2.13. That stretch of 11 starts and one, six-inning relief appearance included four starts of seven innings and one of eight. After that, Chen had an ERA of 5.81. Chen’s season ERA was 4.03 and his WHIP was 1.29. He didn’t walk many, but his opponents’ average and slugging average were both above league norms. He also had a low K/9 of 6.4. Left-handed were a problem, posting an .804 OPS while Chen held right-handed hitters to 5.95.
Stats
Transactions
October 7, 2020: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.