NewsChen trying to make a name for himself
Kansas City (33-44) vs. Chicago (40-38), 7:10 p.m. CT
By Rustin Dodd / MLB.com
07/01/09 10:37 PM ET
KANSAS CITY -- Bruce Chen wasn't sure the day would come.The day when he could walk into a Major League clubhouse, walk to his locker and see a jersey with the last name "Chen."
It finally came last Saturday. After missing nearly two years of baseball -- two years spent battling ineffectiveness and an arm that required Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery -- Chen took the mound for the Royals in Pittsburgh.
He lasted 6 1/3 innings and allowed four earned runs in the loss -- a small bump perhaps, but one that didn't change the fact that Chen was back in the Majors.
"It's very special for me," Chen said. "In doing my rehab and trying to work towards coming back -- and I also have my family and my kids -- it's hard. I didn't know if I was going to make it back. I didn't know if I was going to be completely healthy."
Chen will make his second start for the Royals on Thursday as they begin a four-game series against the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium
It marks another opportunity for Chen to pitch and for others to curiously ask about his name.
They've always asked about that last name. Maybe it just seemed a little odd. Why does the left-handed starting pitcher from Panama have the last name Chen?
Sometimes teammates asked, too. Why does the Asian pitcher speak perfect Spanish?
"Throughout baseball, maybe half the people know I'm from Panama," Chen said.
That's because Chen isn't your typical Panamanian. He's Chinese-Panamanian, to be exact -- born to the children of Chinese immigrants.
The way Chen explains it, his story doesn't seem that unique.
There are thousands of Panamanians of Chinese descent, he said. In fact, there are more than 130,000, according to some sources. Some arrived in the 19th century to work on the Panama railroad, while others were crucial in the building of the Panama Canal.
Chen's grandfather, Kuen Chin Chan Lee, was 9 when made the trip to Panama by boat. It was a time of civil unrest in China, and Panama provided new opportunities.
Chen's grandfather eventually changed his name to Jose Chen, and started a new life in Panama.
"I was born and raised in Panama, and my parents were born and raised in Panama," said Chen, who has represented Panama twice in the World Baseball Classic.
Chen's father became an engineer in Panama, and years later, Chen followed in his father's footsteps by taking engineering courses at Georgia Tech during the baseball offseason.
"My dad always wanted me to become an engineer," Chen said.
Chen still hasn't finished his degree, but his interest in civil engineering puts him in rare company among his fellow big leaguers.
But he's not the only one, he said.
"There's some very smart guys in baseball," Chen said.
Chen's path to Kansas City has been filled with many pitfalls. Chen, who was signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent in 1993, has played for 10 Major League teams in 11 seasons.
He's 35-38 with a 4.64 ERA in those 11 years. But his start on June 27 was his first since Aug. 4, 2006.
Royals manager Trey Hillman liked what he saw. Chen gives Hillman a left-hander to break up a righty-dominant rotation.
"It's always nice to have a lefty, as long as he's effective," Hillman said. "In his one outing, I thought he was very effective. The thing that I think is most impressive for me is he's not afraid to pitch inside at 85, 86 mph."
Chen's road back from surgery was long, but right now, it feels worth it.
"I know everybody here has worked hard," Chen said. "I just look at myself from the time that I had the surgery to all the rehab and all the people that helped me and all the support I got from my family."
Pitching matchupKC: LHP Bruce Chen (0-1, 5.68 ERA)
Chen threw just 76 pitches on Saturday and twice picked off speedy Nyjer Morgan. Chen has faced the White Sox six times in his career, including two starts. He's 0-1 with a 5.66 ERA, giving up 26 hits in 20 2/3 innings. Chen will be making his first home start with the Royals. CWS: LHP Mark Buehrle (7-2, 3.26 ERA)
Buehrle did not have his best stuff on Saturday against the Cubs. The White Sox ace tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs -- three earned -- on six hits while striking out three and walking three. He left after throwing 108 pitches, including 65 for strikes, and he did not last at least six innings for the first time since his first start of the season on April 7. Buehrle has faced the Royals 40 times (38 starts) in his career, more than any other team. Lifetime against Kansas City, he is 19-8 with a 3.48 ERA. He last pitched against the Royals on May 30, going 7 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking none in a no-decision. Crown points
Mark Teahen is hitting .426 (20-for-47) with seven doubles and a home run in his career off Chicago's Buehrle. Willie Bloomquist is hitting .500 (10-for-20) against Buehrle. ... The Royals are 154-143 all-time against the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. ... After going 3-1 with a 2.94 ERA in June, Luke Hochevar was named Royals Pitcher of the Month. Hochevar led the Royals in wins and led the American League in opponents' batting average (.174). ... Catcher Miguel Olivo won Player of the Month honors for June after hitting .295 with eight home runs and 17 RBIs in 25 games. ... Former first-round Draft pick Mike Moustakas finished 3-for-3 on Tuesday night for Class A Wilmington. ... Mindy Walker of Kansas City sat in the Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat on Wednesday. Walker was awarded an Environmental Excellence award from Bridging the Gap, an organization that seeks to promote environmental sustainability, for her commitment to science teaching programs. Tickets
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• Friday: Royals (Zack Greinke, 10-3, 1.95) vs. White Sox (John Danks, 6-6, 4.08), 7:10 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Royals (Luke Hochevar, 3-3, 4.96) vs. White Sox (Gavin Floyd, 6-5, 4.12), 12:10 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Royals (Brian Bannister, 5-6, 3.93) vs. White Sox (Clayton Richard, 3-1, 4.48), 1:10 p.m. CT
Rustin Dodd is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
