Yu-Chieh Shen

From BR Bullpen

Yu-Chieh Shen (沈鈺傑) (Mr. Crab)

  • Bats Left, Throws Left
  • Height 5' 11", Weight 187 lb.

BR register page

Biographical Information[edit]

Yu-Chieh Shen had pitched for 11 years in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

Shen played for Taiwan in the 1995 World Youth Championship, 1996 World Youth Championship and 1999 World Junior Championship. He debuted for the senior national team in 2002, going 3 foe 21 with 4 walks in the 2002 Haarlem Baseball Week and 2 for 19 with 3 walks and one error as the right fielder in the 2002 Intercontinental Cup. In the 2003 World Port Tournament, he was 9 for 29 with 2 doubles, 4 walks and 5 runs. He was picked by the Macoto Cobras in the 2003 CPBL draft but did not sign.

The Taichung native then became a pitcher. In the 2004 Haarlem Baseball Week, he went 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He was chosen by the China Trust Whales in the first round of the 2004 CPBL Draft. He debuted in the CPBL in 2005, going 9-7 with two saves and a 2.91 ERA. He led the league in appearances, ranking 8th in ERA (1.20 behind En-Yu Lin) and 3rd in holds (2 behind Ming-Chin Lee). The next year, the sophomore hurler was 6-5 with 8 saves and a 3.18 ERA. In the 2007 CPBL, Shen had a 8-6 record, one save and a 3.81 ERA. He was selected into the 2007 CPBL All-Star Game, and he collected a hold while allowing 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings. He was one for one at the plate. He represented Taiwan in the 2007 Asian Championship.

In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he made four appearances, going 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA. He struck out 5 in 2 2/3 scoreless innings against Spain. He allowed hits to two of four batters versus Mexico, 3 runs on 3 hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings against the USA in a losing decision and one run in one inning versus South Korea. He was on Taiwan's preliminary roster for the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament but he failed a drug test and was banned from playing.

Shen went 3-5 with 3 saves and a 4.66 ERA and was 1 for 3 at the plate in 2008, and he led the league with 49 appearances. After the Whales folded in a gambling scandal, Shen was taken by the Sinon Bulls in the redistribution draft. After changing team, Shen was still a solid reliever in 2009, and he recorded a 3.42 ERA in 65 games while notching 6 holds. He was 2nd in appearances, 1 behind Chien-San Kao. Shen also pitched in the 2009 CPBL All-Star Game, and he pitched a shutout inning.

In 2010, Shen had a 2.87 ERA in 65 games with a career-high 13 holds. He was 3rd in holds (7 behind Chao-Hao Tseng) and 2nd in appearances (5 behind Tseng). He attended the 2010 CPBL All-Star Game, but he surrendered one run in 1 2/3 innings and got a blown save. In the 2010 Taiwan Series, Shen pitched 2 shutout innings but the Bulls were swept by the Brother Elephants.

Shen was named the closer of the Bulls in 2011, and he notched 14 saves with a 4.30 ERA in 60 appearances. He led the league in games, and ranked 3rd in saves (16 behind Ming-Chieh Hsu). He pitched 2/3 of a inning and gave up a run in the 2011 CPBL All-Star Game. Shen slumped to 7.30 ERA in 54 games in 2012, and his ERA was 4.20 in 56 appearances in 2013. He only pitched 8 games in 2014, then he bounced back in 2015 as his ERA was 3.60 in 37 appearances. He became the 2nd pitcher to pitch 500 games on May 22, following Chien-San Kao. Shen announced his retirement after this season and became a coach. He was the bullpen coach for the EDA Rhinos from 2015 to 2016, and worked as scout for them from 2017 to 2020.

Shen throws a curveball, forkball, slider, changeup and "vulcan" changeup. His fastball peaks in the high 80s.

Overall, Shen was 50-45 with a 3.91 ERA, collected 68 holds and 36 saves in 526 appearances, struck out 606 and pitched 817 2/3 innings in 11 seasons in the CPBL. As of 2023, he was 3rd in games (110 behind Kao) and 11th in holds (between Yu-Kang Fu and Cheng-Feng Chiang).

Sources[edit]

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