World Baseball Classic: Royals southpaw Bruce Chen is hoping to play for Team China in World Baseball Classic

KANSAS CITY — Royals left-hander Bruce Chen said Monday he’s waiting to hear if he’ll be eligible to pitch for Team China in this year’s World Baseball Classic.

Chen cannot pitch for his native country, Panama, because it was eliminated during a November qualifying round in Panama City. Brazil advanced from a field that included Panama, Colombia and Nicaragua.

“Team China contacted me about the possibility of playing for them,” Chen said. “I told them I’d think about it, but they’re in the process of seeing if I can become eligible first. There’s nothing [definite] yet.”

Chen pitched for Panama in the 2006 and ’09 Classics. He did not play in November’s qualifier because it came too soon after the close of the Major League season.

“Panama is not in the World Baseball Classic. Otherwise I would pitch for Panama,” he said.

China is scheduled to open Classic play on March 3 against Japan at Fukuoka, Japan.

Chen’s grandparents came from China to work on the Panama Canal and settled in Panama, where he was born in 1977.

“Panama wanted me to play for them, but they didn’t make it. But China wants me to play for them, and it’s an honor,” Chen said. “It would be a great way for me to represent my ancestry. Everyone knows I’m of Asian descent and it would be a tribute to my grandparents and a tribute to my ancestry.”

This year’s Classic rosters are scheduled to be announced on Thursday night.

Chen led the Royals’ pitching staff in victories the last three seasons and started Opening Day in 2012, but he’s facing a battle…

via World Baseball Classic: Royals southpaw Bruce Chen is hoping to play for Team China in World Baseball Classic.