2020 International Signing Po-Yu Chen Dominating Rookie Ball
Just as the 2020 season was ending, Ben Cherington and his staff got to work on their off-season plans. Cherington made it clear he wanted to bring talent into the organization through trades and international free agent signings. They wasted no time getting to work, signing their first International Free Agent just 20 days after they dropped their series finale against the Chicago Cubs to end the 2020 season. They ended up signing 18-year-old Taiwanese pitcher Po-Yu Chen to a 1.25 million dollar signing bonus. While it was the last signing of the 2019-2020 International Free Agent signing period, it is probably the one that had made the biggest impact so far.
Prior to his signing, Chen already had Big League experience, helping the 18U Chinese Taipei team win the gold, pitching two innings to earn the save in the Gold Medal game. After signing, he was one of the Pirate's highest-paid International Free Agent signings in Pirates history. He had to wait more than eight months for his first shot to pitch in professional ball, but now that he has gotten his chance, he is dominating down in rookie ball. The 19-year-old has appeared in six professional games and has gone 2-0 with an impressive 0.69 ERA in 26.0 innings of work. He is dominating in rookie ball and is knocking on the door to a potential call-up to A-Ball this season.
Dominating Rookie Ball
Nearly eight months after signing his professional contract, Po-Yu Chen got the chance to pitch in his first professional game. The appearance came for the Florida Complex League Pirates on July 1st against the FCL Twins for his first professional start. From the time he stepped on the mound until the end of the fourth inning, Chen was in control and showed why the Pirates forked out 1.25 million dollars for him. He threw 4.0 innings of two-hit ball while striking out five and not walking a batter. He had a ground ball to fly ball ratio of 5-2, and he had his strikeout pitch working throughout the night.
Since then, Chen has been flat-out dominant in the FCL and has yet to allow more than one earned run in a game this season. He has lasted 5.0 innings in all but two of his starts this season, but the most impressive stat is that he has yet to walk a batter in his 26 innings of work. He has truly defined what it means to pound the strike zone as he has thrown 96% of pitches for strikes. He doesn't play around and goes right after his opposing hitters, which is a good sign for a pitcher that is only 19-years-old. If he does make the jump to A-Ball, he would be one of the youngest players in both Low-A and High-A, as he tries to make his MLB dreams come true.
In his latest start against the FCL Braves, Chen turned in another solid outing going 5.0 innings while allowing a run on five hits while striking out three. It was the second-most hits he has allowed in a game this season, but his team couldn't back him up as they fell 6-1 to the FCL Braves. Chen continues to dominate the lower half of the strike zone, getting a groundball to flyball rate of 8-3. Opponents are hitting just .191 off the right-hander this season, and Chen consistently continues to pound the strike zone. In 26.0 innings pitched, Chen has struck out 29 batters, using a combination of his fastball and his slider. It is a recipe that has worked so far and is getting the 19-year-old noticed in the FCL.
The Next Step
Pitching well in the FCL is one thing, but the jump to class A Ball will be the real test for Chen. When he does get the call to A Ball, he will be one of the youngest pitchers there and will have to show he can handle the more advanced hitting. In some cases, he will be facing guys who are upwards of five years older than he is, and he will have to show he can still dominate them. The thing that I want to see from Chen is the development of a third pitch to complement his fastball and slider. Having two dominant pitches Is nice, but eventually, the other team is going to catch on to those pitches. If you can have that third dominant pitch to turn to, it makes you that much more effective of a pitcher.
The one thing that Chen has that will make him go far is his command of the strike zone. When you throw almost 100% of your pitches for strikes, you aren't a guy who is going to offer up many free passes. However, what he is going to have to show in A Ball is whether he cannot only hit the strike zone but command his pitches in that strike zone. It is one thing to throw strikes consistently, but yet another to throw effective strikes. When you are facing 16-19-year-old kids, you can afford to make some mistakes in the strike zone and still get away with them. However, against more mature professional hitters, those mistakes are going to turn into runs for the other team.
So far, Chen has shown he belongs in professional baseball and has done great work over six starts. The next question is how will he handle the higher levels of pro ball? There is no doubt he should end the year in at least Low-A, and get a chance to show what he can do against some older competition. It is too early to say whether or not he is a top prospect in the Pirates system, but his track record so far has been nearly flawless. He is showing he has the stamina and control to be a starting pitcher, now he has to show he can take his stuff to the next level. He still has some more development to do on his pitches, but early indications are that he has good stuff, and is dominating in rookie ball.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (42-78) try to salvage a game in this three-game series when they battle the Los Angeles Dodgers (78-42) tonight at 10:10 pm. JT Brubaker (4-12, 5.13) looks to get back on track after a few rough outings for the Pirates against a pitcher to be named later for the Dodgers. You can watch the game on AT&T Sportsnet or listen on 93.7 The Fan.
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