• Despite his Asian name, Chen is a native of Panama and speaks fluent Spanish. "My grandparents are both Chinese," he explained. "A lot of Chinese people went to Panama to build the canal. My grandfather left China and went to Panama with the other people, but he never worked on the canal."

  Bruce was born in Panama to José and Luisa Chen. He is of Chinese descent. His paternal grandfather, Kuen Chin Chan Lee, joined his brothers and other relatives in Panama at age nine during the Chinese Civil War. Chen's maternal grandmother, Kuen Yin Liu de Laffo, was born in Panama, but her family had to return to China after fire destroyed their home. After years of hard labor, she returned to Panama at age 24. Both of Chen's grandparents have died.

• The Braves found Bruce in Panama City, Panama, signing him at age 16. He grew up with the desire to play baseball. He didn't really know about Major League baseball, however. His desire was to grow up and play for Panama's national team.

  He didn't find out about the big leagues until Braves' international scouting director Bill Clark spotted the rail-thin youngster at age 15. He was too young to sign, so the Braves came up with a way to make him Atlanta property a year before a bidding war would commence.

  They offered to set up Chen with a guardian in Boca Raton, Florida, and pay his food and lodging costs through his last year in high school if he signed with the Braves. Bruce left home at 16, skipped his junior year in high school because of his impressive academic performance on standardized tests, attended Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, and worked out with Braves minor leaguers. The Braves committed four years of college tuition to Chen. In 1997, he began civil engineering classes at Georgia Tech and was an A student.

  "I've got to get that degree," Bruce said. "When I'm 40 years old, I'll be very glad I have it."

  After the 1998 season, Bruce took a full academic load. At Georgia Tech, Chen says, "Some friends know who I am and know I play for the Braves. But most on campus don't know. It's good. I can be with regular people and they like me because of the person I am, not because I'm a baseball player. I have my baseball life and my college life and my personal life."

• Bruce grew up speaking Spanish, but learned enough Chinese to carry on a conversation with his grandmother.

• Christmas was very special when Chen was a kid.

  "My grandmother was the one who gave the big gifts," Bruce said. "My mom and dad didn't have that much money, so my gifts from my parents were basically underwear, shorts, T-shirts—things they were going to buy me anyway but they gave them to me for Christmas. As a child I didn't appreciate it. But now, when I'm older, I realize they did make a lot of sacrifices for me to get that."

  His grandmother, called "Shappo," would make the trip from Bocas del Toro, a nearby island where she operated a convenience store. She apparently doted on little Bruce, who remembered a visit when he was 6 or 7.

  "She came about three weeks before Christmas and she left a big, big box that said 'Bruce,' and it was like the biggest box of all," he said. "At that time it was just me and my sister, Karla. For three weeks I couldn't open it and I was trying to see what it was. I was trying to pick at it, little by little. You're a little kid, that thing is under your tree and you can't help but pick and pick. But I didn't know what it was.

  "When Christmas came, I opened it and it was a huge robot, kind of like R2D2 from 'Star Wars.' But it wasn't because it was brown and had two hands that moved forward and back with a remote control. I played with that thing so much. On the box, they said one of the things you could do is put the newspaper in its hand and it would bring it back to you. In Panama there are people that walk up and down the street selling the newspaper. I knew he'd come at 7:00 or 7:30 in the morning, so I'd send my robot out there and wait for the seller, then yell at him, 'Put the newspaper in his hands and I'll give you the money later.' So they did that."

• Bruce said his childhood heroes included Doc Gooden, Kevin Mitchell, and Dave Stewart.

• Bruce believes college helps his pitching, too. "Studying physics and calculus has helped my mind and my ability to understand things," he says. "A pitcher has to be mentally alert, able to remember batters, and I think college has helped me think faster and has helped improve my memory."

• His older sister has a degree in electromechanical engineering, and his cousin ans his father are electrical engineers.

• Though Chen has added about 30 pounds to his 6-foot-2 body since signing, he is still a tall, skinny guy who could benefit from adding another 10 pounds or so.

• Bruce did not start pitching untl he was 14 years old. "There was a regional team," Chen recalled. "and the only way I could make the team was as a pitcher. They had a good first baseman and good outfielders. There aren't too many lefties in Panama, so that's when I decided to become a pitcher."

• Bruce takes care of himself with his menu, too. "I try to eat healthy. I eat a lot of carbohydrates and fats for energy." He says, "I avoid most junk foods, as well as soda and alcohol." But he does eat a steak and potatoes, sometimes.

• Greg Maddux called Bruce "Jackie," after Jackie Chan. He is also nicknamed "Chen Strap" and "T.C. Chen."

• Chen attended college one semester a year, between baseball seasons, studying civil engineering at Georgia Tech. The school used to be on the quarterly system, making it easy for Bruce to attend in the offseason. But he can't do that anymore, fully intending to get his degree one day. Then he can join his sister and cousin, also engineers, in his father's business in Panama, making pumps for gas stations.

• Bruce said that for hobbies, "I like to play video games, play golf and read sometimes."

• For music, Bruces said, "I like reggae. Over there in Panama, we listen to a lot of reggae. But I also like bands like Linkin Park. My fiancee—she's getting me into it."

• Chen said his favorite meal is "Rice and beans, with fried chicken."

• Bruce was asked the kind of people he most admires, "Intelligent people . . .  smart people, like Einstein, Isaac Newton, Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci. Those people just intrigue me. I think they're so smart. They don't think like normal people. Whatever they have to say was interesting. I have a lot of respect for scientists and people who work at NASA, because I think they are very smart people."

• Bruce's wife's name is Meredith. They have two daughters, Gabriela (born in 2003) and Adriana (born in 2007).

• Chen spends the offseason in Columbia, South Carolina, where the parents of his wife, Meredith, reside.

• Bruce has an impressive clubhouse presence, a great attitude, and a solid work ethic.

• In 2010, he became a member of the Phillies starting rotation.Some of the Phillies fans were loyal to Bruce, and they were known as "The Chen Pen,"
• Late in the 2011 season, a hot item in the Royals' clubhouse was Bruce Chen T-shirts. They went fast because of (a) the price: free, and (b) the gag inscriptions.

  The front read: "Domina-Chen." Get it? Domination.

  On the back: "My Fastball" with a large number 83 followed by "By you."Sure,  Chen's fastball is a bit faster than 83 mph and does get by hitters, but his teammates loved the humor and the design by Jonathan Knoffer, student at the Kansas City Art Institute and son of team massage therapist Rick Knoffer.

  Chen, well-known as the team's resident jokester as well as an 11-game winner, liked the design and had some T-shirts made up for some of the Royals staff as a token of appreciation.

  "I ordered 20 for the trainers and everything, and I wanted to have some for my family. Then I gave one to [Joakim] Soria and he wore it yesterday and everybody wanted one," Chen said.

  So the players swooped in, snared every shirt to wear under their jerseys, and the demand continues.

  "Now I have to order more," Chen said.

• Bruce wanted to play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Born in Panama, his native country was eliminated in qualifying so he wants to play for his grandparents' homeland, thus becoming the first Major League Baseball player to play for China in the Classic. His invitation came in a roundabout way, from veteran Minor League infielder Ray Chang, who was born in Kansas City but played for China in the 2009 Classic.

  "He was actually the one who contacted me through [Aaron] Crow because they work out at the same place," Chen said. "He said, 'We wanted to know if you were interested.'"

• Bruce's older brother, Greg Kateso Chen, is also a professional baseball player.

• Chen grew up in Panama, where there's a large Chinese population that stemmed from workers building the Panama Canal, which opened in 1914. His grandparents settled there in the '40s.  His parents, Jose and Luisa Chen, along with his brother Kastulo and sister Karla, are all involved in operating a company that installs gas-pumping equipment in Panama. His father, an electrical engineer, was also a slow-pitch softball player, which is how Bruce got hooked on ball.

  "I loved it," Chen recalled. "My dad saw that I liked it, so he started putting me in Little League games; I was horrible, but the more you practice and the more you go, the better you get. He was the one who actually encouraged me to keep going. I was never really strong, so when I hit, I didn't have that much power and when I threw, I didn't have that much velocity -- not that I have a lot right now."

  When the Royals held a special fathers' trip in 2013 for many of the dads, it was Jose Chen who stole the show by blasting the ball in batting practice.  "It's not official yet, but if we have the fathers' trip again, he's going to come. He has a title to defend. That was main reason I signed back," Chen said with a grin. "My dad had a great time. It was the first time that we were hanging out, just me and him, since I was a kid."

  Chen had chances to sign elsewhere, but he felt a special kinship with the Royals.  "My wife, Mary, is from Kansas City and she never told me, 'Hey, sign with this team.' But when I told her I was going to sign with Kansas City, she was very happy," he said.  

  Chen still makes his home in the Phoenix area, where his daughters, Gabriela, 10, and Adriana, 6 (as of April 2014), also live. He has some fine memories with the Royals—an Opening Day start in 2012, a no-hit bid against the Angels, two Royals Pitcher of the Year Awards, and a two-hitter against the Rays for his first career shutout.

  Yet nothing got him revved up like the Royals' bid for the playoffs in 2013. For all his experience, Chen has never been in the postseason, and the Royals haven't been there since winning the 1985 World Series. So Chen feels his best memory is yet to come.

  "I want to have the memory of getting to a postseason and seeing that," he said. "We have to work very hard, but that would be my ultimate goal: to see people cherish the 2014 team the way they cherish the 1985 team." (Kaegel - mlb.com - 02/19/14)

• It was late February 2009, and the phone call flicked across Phoenix from Bruce Chen's house to Rene Francisco at the Royals' complex.

  Chen: "Rene, I'm getting ready for the World Baseball Classic, would you guys let me throw at your complex?"

  Francisco: "Where do you live?"

  Chen: "Right here, in Surprise."

  Francisco: "Sure, just come on over."

  Chen: "And, by the way, I'm looking for a job. I'm a free agent."

  Francisco: "We'll come and watch you throw."

  Francisco, the Royals' assistant general manager/international operations, smiled when he recalled the conversation.

  "And the rest is history," Francisco said.

  Good history for the Royals. Because the next morning, March 1, 2009, Francisco and several other officials watched Chen, who hadn't pitched the year before, throw a bullpen session. Before the day was over, Chen signed a contract, and he has been winning games for Kansas City ever since. (Spring 2014)

• Chen came out of retirement to pitched for China in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

• Chen and his wife Mary have three daughters

  TRANSACTIONS

• 1993: The Braves signed Bruce as a free agent, out of Panama.

• July 12, 2000: The Phillies sent P Andy Ashby to the Braves to acquire Chen and P Jimmy Osting.

• July 27, 2001: The Mets sent pitchers Turk Wendell and Dennis Cook to the Phillies to acquire Chen and P Adam Walker. Bruce's laid-back personality didn't mesh with the fiery Philadelphia manager, Larry Bowa.

• April 5, 2002: The Expos sent pitchers Scott Strickland, Phil Seibel and outfielder Matt Watson to the Mets to acquire Chen, P Dicky Gonzalez and INF Luis Figueroa and P Saul Rivera.

• June 14, 2002: The Reds sent P Jim Brower to the Expos to acquire Chen.

• March 10, 2003: The Reds released Chen.

• March 14, 2003: The Astros signed him for Triple-A New Orleans right away.

• May 7, 2003: The Red Sox claimed Bruce off waivers from the Astros. So Chen joined his seventh major league team in just four seasons. "I'll tell you what, I'm getting good at packing,'' he said. "I can get out of a city in one day now.''

• November 26, 2003: Bruce signed with the Blue Jays' organization.

• May 1, 2004: The Orioles acquired Chen from the Blue Jays' organization.

• January 17, 2006: Bruce signed a $3.8 million contract with the Orioles, with $400,000 in incentives.

• February 5, 2007: Chen signed with the Rangers.

• March 1, 2009: Bruce signed with the Royals organization.

• November 9, 2009: Chen filed for free agency.

• December 11, 2009: Bruce again signed with the Royals' organization.

• January 15, 2011: Chen signed with the Royals organization. 

• November 23, 2011: Bruce signed a two-year, $9 million contract with the Royals, through 2013. And he has the possibility of $2 million more in incentives. The base salary would be $4.5 million each year.

• January 30, 2014: Chen signed a one year deal with the Royals, with a mutual option for 2015.

• August 29,2014: Left-hander Bruce Chen's often inspiring and successful six seasons with the Kansas City Royals are behind him. Chen was designated for assignment, one day after giving up six runs in the 10th inning of an 11-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Chen's departure is permanent. Manager Ned Yost made the announcement.

• February 16, 2015: Cleveland reached an agreement with Chen on a Minor League contract that includes an invitation to attend big league Spring Training, pending the completion of a physical exam. CBS Sports reported that Chen would have a $1 million base salary with another $1 million possible through incentives, if he is in the Majors with the Tribe.

• May 16, 2015: Chen was designated for assignment by the Indians. Chen retired.

• The highly intelligent Chen throws a moving, four-seam FASTBALL in the 86-91 mph range, but normally around 88 mph. He also has a sinking, two-seam fastball, and a solid 12-to-6 signature CURVEBALL with a sharp, late break.
  
  He has good command and impeccable control of them. His SLIDER is an effective one. His CHANGEUP is real good, too, making his curve and heater seem even better. That change really came along in 2004, becoming his go-to pitch. And in 2009, he added a CUTTER.
  
  In 2005, Bruce stopped relying so heavily on his fastball and began using his curve and changeup as his primary pitches. Chen took tips from Jamie Moyer about command and placement of his pitches and had his best season.

• Bruce is a fllyball pitcher. He gives up the long ball when his fastball is left up in the zone. He is not afraid of anybody and won't back down in any situation. He has a great feel for pitching and is lefthanded. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he can still win.

   

• Chen has to concentrate on the lower part of the strike zone to be successful. And he has to become stronger so that past injury problems do not recur as his innings mount up.

   

• Bruce still might be the complete package: great stuff, great makeup, intelligent and savvy. He has wonderful mound presence. He is similar to Tom Glavine because he has such a good plan on the mound. He relies on deception and his impeccable control.

   

• When he misses high in the strike zone, he has to step off the mound and make an adjustment. He has always gotten hit hard when he left the ball upin the strike zone. He is successful when he is able to finish his follow-trhough on his delivery.

   

• In 1997, Bruce led the South Atlantic League in strikeouts, with 182.

   

• Bruce usually has a low pitch count every inning. That is good, because he seems to tire after about 75 pitches.

   

• In May 2003, when the Red Sox signed Bruce, one National League scout was not impressed. "Chen gets some lefthanders out but not the quality lefties,'' the NL scout said. "He nibbles too much and falls behind in counts. I see him as a fifth- or sixth-inning guy, and that club needs more than that.''
  
  Chen's fastball, which used to be clocked in the low 90s, is now 88-89 mph "on good days'' according to one scout, who said "his breaking ball sits in the zone.''

   

• In 2004, Chen worked on a new delivery. The Blue Jays had him drop down and throw from a lower release point, while with the Syracuse SkyChiefs (IL) to start the season. Toronto Pitching Coach Gil Patterson introduced the delivery to Bruce while he was in big league camp during spring training.

   

• In 2005, Bruce finally was effective. And it was because he finally learned to master his changeup. He had struggled with it because he had tried to throw it too slowly.
  
  "He always had a little better than average fastball and a big breaking ball," Orioles pitching coach Ray Miller said. Miller says Chen relied on those two pitches exclusively because he was never able to feel comfortable throwing a changeup—he didn't trust it. Starters generally need more than two pitches to succeed in the Majors.

   

• In 2010, Bruce again dropped his arm slot from over the top to three-quarters. The lower delivery slot enabled Chen to not only keep the ball lower in the strike zone but added to the movement.
  
  "The change he made when he dropped his arm angle helped him stay more consistently down in the zone," Royals manager Ned Yost said, then made another point about Chen. "The  thing I like about Bruce is he doesn't get flustered. If he gives up a home run, he just says, 'Give me the ball back and I'll go back to trying to make my pitch.' "

  Pitching coach Bob McClure made the lower arm slot change during spring training when Chen was a reliever, figuring it would make him more effective against lefthanded batters. When he was drafted into the rotation to replace sore-shouldered Gil Meche, Chen kept using the three-quarters delivery although he occasionally also comes overhanded.

   

• After being a starting pitcher for the previous three years, and leading the Royals' staff in victories each year, he willingly moved to the bullpen for the team to start the 2013 season.
  
  "Ever since I've know Bruce Chen, it's always team first. Always," manager Ned Yost said. "There's never been an exception where he's thought of himself in a selfish way. It's always, 'I want to win and I want to help the team win.'"

   

• As of the start of the 2013 season, Chen has a career record of 71-72 with 4.60 ERA, having allowed 234 home runs and 1385 hits in 1356 innings. A starting pitcher for K.C. in 2010 through 2012, Chen led the Royals' staff in victories each year. His combined record was 35-29 for losing teams. Chen made 82 starts and had a 4.40 ERA. (Bruce was moved to the bullpen before the 2013 season.)

• For a lefthanded pitcher, Chen has only a fair pickoff move to first base.
• He is very good defensively.
• Bruce is a terrible hitter, usually striking out.

          POST-PLAYING CAREER POSITIONS

• 2016: Chen joined the Indians organization as the team's cultural development coordinator.

• May 2007: Chen went on the D.L.

• September 23, 2009: Bruce was on the D.L. with a torn left oblique muscle.

• May 6, 2011: Chen was on the D.L. with a left lat strain. It was a Grade 1 strain, which is the least serious level. An MRI showed no structural damage to his back, just inflammation in and area around a nerve.
  
  

• April 25-June 24, 2014:  Chen was put on the 15-day disabled list.
  
  August 29, 2014: Bruce was released by the Royals.