GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- Nearly two years after he retired from baseball, left-hander Bruce Chen is getting ready to pitch for China in the World Baseball Classic.
The 39-year-old Chen retired after the Cleveland Indians designated him for assignment on May 15, 2015, and none of the other teams claimed him off waivers. When the team from China reached out to him late last year, Chen wondered if it was looking for a pitching coach.
''Two days later, they told me they wanted me to pitch,'' Chen said on Wednesday.
The Indians had hired him as a cultural development coordinator and supported his decision to get back on the mound.