Kuan-Yu Chen

From BR Bullpen

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Kuan-Yu Chen (陳冠宇)

  • Bats Left, Throws Left
  • Height 5' 10", Weight 165 lb.

BR Register page

Biographical Information[edit]

Kuan-Yu Chen has represented Taiwan at the junior, college and senior levels in international competition.

In the 2008 World Junior Championship, Chen beat Team Canada in the 5th-6th place game. He was 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA for Taiwan in the 2010 Haarlem Baseball Week. He nearly beat the Cuban national team, losing a 3-2 duel to Maikel Folch; one of the runs came unearned and another was off reliever Chen-Hua Lin. Chen allowed five runs (four earned) in seven innings in the 2010 World University Championship.

The Taipei County native made two appearances in the 2010 Intercontinental Cup. He tossed two shutout relief innings versus the Czech Republic. Starting in the semifinals against the Dutch national team, he allowed two runs in 5 2/3 IP in a battle with Diegomar Markwell and got a no-decision; Taiwan lost and wound up without a medal. In the 2010 Asian Games, he was hit hard with five hits (two home runs) and four runs in 1 2/3 IP. Taiwan got the Silver Medal.

Turning pro, he signed with the Yokohama BayStars for 2011. He was assigned to ni-gun and had a 3.38 ERA after ten games on the farm. He was 1-0 with a 5.23 ERA in four outings in the 2011 Baseball World Cup; in his lone start, he beat Iván Maldonado and Puerto Rico. He led Taiwan in innings, 1/3 ahead of Yao-Lin Wang. Chen underwent Tommy John surgery and missed 2012 and 2013. He made his NPB debut in 2014, starting against Hiroshima Toyo Carp on July 16. He pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowed 3 runs, ending up with a no-decision. In the 2014 Asian Games, Chen pitched 7 innings with 8 strikeouts and only two runs allowed against the South Korea. Taiwan won a Silver Medal. However, that performance wasn't enough to make him stay with the BayStars, as he was released on October 27.

Chiba Lotte Marines signed Chen for the next year, and he made Taiwan's roster for the 2015 Premier 12. He didn't pitch well, as he allowed 6 earned runs in only 3 1/3 innings. He lost to Shairon Martis of the Dutch national team. Chen had his first entire year to stay in the PL, and was 5-4 with 3.32 ERA. He was 1-1 with 4.01 ERA in 2016, and pitched for Taiwan in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He played two games, surrendering 5 runs in 4 innings. Taiwan was eliminated in the first round. In this year, Chen had a above-average 3.29 ERA in 27 games, and grabbed a career-high 4 holds. He continued his good performance in 2018, when he played 24 games with a 3.92 ERA. Chen had his career year in 2019, when he played 44 games with 5 holds and a 3.63 ERA. Chen made Taiwan's team for the 2019 Premier 12. He played 5 games, pitched 4 1/3 innings with a 0 ERA; that was the best pitching performance for the team's relief pitchers. He still played well in the next year with a 3.20 ERA in 19 games, but decided to came back to Taiwan in 2020.

The Rakuten Monkeys selected Chen with the 2nd overall pick in the 2021 CPBL Draft. In his rookie year in the CPBL, Chen was arranged to be a starting pitcher, but he struggled and recorded a 6.52 ERA with a 1-5 record. He even cried on the field after Yung-Chi Chen blasted a 3-run home run off him. The Monkeys decided to move him to his familiar relief pitching role in 2022. Chen bounced back with 3.07 ERA in 23 games played. He also pitched 2 shutout innings in the 2022 CPBL All-Star Game. In the 2022 Taiwan Series, Chen pitched 4 2/3 shutout innings combined in 3 games, but the Monkeys were swept by the CTBC Brothers.

Chen then made Taiwan's roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He pitched 3 games, allowed 3 hits and walked 3 in 2 innings but only one earned run. He had a 3.69 ERA in 41 relief outings in 2023, and he also notched 12 holds. Chen only appeared in Game 5 of the 2023 Taiwan Series, and he pitched one shutout inning. The Monkeys were beaten by the Wei Chuan Dragons in 7 games.

Chen's repertoire includes a fastball (peak 92 mph), curveball, sinker and forkball.

Sources[edit]

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