Taiwanese left-handed starting pitcher Chen Wei-yin on Thursday expressed the hope that he could play a full Major League Baseball (MLB) season in the US without getting injured in the new year.
Replying to questions raised by reporters on his expectations for this year while visiting his alma mater, National Taiwan Sport University in Taoyuan, Chen said that he would rather not predict his performance in the new year, but hopes to play a full season in good health.
Referring to his possible next step in the MLB, Chen said he does not worry that he has not got a contract from any club so far, adding that it is something for his agent to handle.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times
He said he believes “there will be an answer to the question” prior to this year’s spring training camps.
For the moment, he is focusing on a self-training program, Chen said.
Chen, 30, has become a free agent for the first time after his four-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles expired last year and is an attractive option in the MLB free-agent market.
Chen made his professional debut with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan’s Pacific Coast League in 2005. He led the league with a 1.54 ERA in 2009 and posted a 3.27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 650-2/3 career Nippon Professional Baseball innings.
Following the 2011 season, Chen opted out of his contract with Chunichi to sign with the Orioles for approximately US$15.7 million.
Over his four years in Baltimore, Chen was 46-32 with a 3.72 ERA and in three of his four seasons, he won at least 11 games and made at least 31 starts and pitched 185-plus innings.
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