Chen begins his first season with the Ducks and 17th in professional baseball. The pitcher spent eight seasons in the Major Leagues, including four each with the Baltimore Orioles (2012-15) and Miami Marlins (2016-19). In 219 MLB games (170 starts), he compiled a 59-51 record with a 4.18 ERA and 846 strikeouts to 270 walks over 1,064.2 innings of work. He was named to Baseball America’s Major League All-Rookie Team and finished fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting to eventual winner Mike Trout in 2012. He went 12-11 with a 4.02 ERA in 32 starts that season. The Taiwan native also started three MLB postseason games, helping the Orioles reach the American League Division Series in 2012 and the American League Championship Series in 2014.

The 38-year-old went on to spend three seasons pitching in Japan, joining the Chiba Lotte Marines (2020) and Hanshin Tigers (2021-22). He also spent the first five seasons of his professional career in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons (2005, 2008-11). In 150 games (89 starts) overseas, the southpaw posted a 42-36 record with a 2.56 ERA, 14 complete games, eight shutouts, one save and 591 strikeouts to 176 walks over 766.1 innings. Chen was originally signed by the Orioles as a free agent in 2012.