Kun Chen

Kun Chen (陳坤)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 183 lb.

• Born March 5, 1980 in Sichuan Province China

Kun Chen has been a member of the Chinese national team and played for them in the Olympics.

In the 2005 Baseball World Cup, Chen had a 2.57 ERA and two no-decisions. He played in the first Konami Cup, held in 2005, and was in the event in both 2006 and 2007. He went 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA, allowing 8 hits in 3 innings in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He pitched in the 2006 Asian Games as well.

Two years later, he was with China in the 2008 Olympics, allowing 3 runs in 3 innings of work. He entered with a save opportunity and a 3-2 lead in the 9th inning of China's game against Taiwan but walked Kuo-Hui Lo to lead off the inning, walked Che-Hsuan Lin with two outs and gave up a RBI double to Chien-Ming Chang. China did go on to win in extra innings. Chen was ejected from the China-USA game after he threw a fastball at Matt LaPorta's head in retaliation for LaPorta's injury-causing collision with backstop Wei Wang and Nate Schierholtz's collision with Wang's backup Yang Yang. Chen was ejected from the game for throwing at LaPorta.

Kun Chen tried to close the game for China but Lo drew a leadoff walk. PH Wu-Hsiung Pan hit into a force at second. 3B Chih-Wei Shih struck our for the second out. With their backs to the wall, Taiwan rallied. CF Che-Hsuan Lin drew a walk. That brought up RF Chien-Ming Chang, who doubled home Pan to tie the score at 3. Peng grounded out back to the mound to end the inning.

Chen saved China's win over Taiwan in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He relieved Junyi Chen with one out in the 8th and a 3-1 lead. Chen struck out frequent CPBL batting champ Cheng-Min Peng then got Yi-Chuan Lin to ground into an inning-ender. In the 9th, he struck out Kuo-Ching Kao. Wu-Hsiung Pan and Chih-Yao Chan both singled, but Chen recovered to get Han Lin on a grounder. He then retired Boston Red Sox prospect Che-Hsuan Lin on a ground out to Ray Chang to end the game.

Sources

• Defunct IBAF site
• World Baseball Classic
• 2008 Olympics