In 1999 in the Cal League with Single–A San Bernardino Stampede in 1999, he batted .316/.404/.580 with 31 homers, 31 steals, 123 RBIs and 75 walks.[3] Along with outfielder Joc Pederson, who achieved the same feat in the Triple–A in 2014, Chen is one of only two LA Dodger minor leaguers to have a 30 home run, 30 stolen bases season.[3][4]
Chen became the first Taiwanese baseball player to play in Major League baseball when he made his debut on September 14, 2002. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in parts of the 2002-05 seasons, but only sparingly. In 2005, Chen was reluctant to accept a designation for assignment back to the Dodgers' Las Vegas 51sTriple–A team, and try out with another major league team.
In 2005, Chen was the first Taiwanese position player to ever get a hit in Major League Baseball, a 2-run RBI single off Colorado Rockies' reliever Bobby Seay. However, Chin-hui Tsao had earlier become the first Taiwanese player to get a hit in the Majors as a pitcher, with the Colorado Rockies on August 18, 2003.
After his contract with the Dodgers organization expired after the 2005 season, Chen announced on December 26, 2005, that he would not return to North America for the 2006 season, but would instead enter the CPBL draft. In 2006, after struggling to make the 25-man roster with the Dodgers, Chen tried out for the Japanese professional league (NPB), and eventually decided to play in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan.
Chen in 2007
He was promptly selected by the La New Bears as a designated hitter. Chen completed his first complete baseball season back home in Taiwan in 2006. He ranked first in many aspects such as the highest batting average and 81 RBIs for the whole season. He also led the Bears to the championship title, and won his first MVP title for the final series matches. Later on, in the second Asian baseball tournament, he produced the best performance again and gained attention from several Japanese and Korean teams, including the Orix Buffaloes. However, Chen did not sign with them, and remained in Taiwan.
Chen in 2013
Chen announced his retirement from the Chinese Professional Baseball League on September 18, 2016.[5] On September 18, 2016, at the conclusion of his final match, Lamigo Monkeys retired his #52 jersey.
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