"From the time he came here [Eugene], you could see that he had that special quality like Andruw [Jones] did. I think you are going to see him accelerate pretty fast through the system."
-- Jim Saul, 1996 Eugene Emeralds manager

"He's not afraid of anybody. He won't back down in any situtation. It's uncanny for a young pitcher. But it's that toughness combined with his ability that's going to make him a successful pitcher."
-- Deric Ladnier, Braves director of minor league operations

"Jerry Nyman ['96 Eugene pitching coach] told me he just leaves Bruce alone because he's learning from him. This kid is as smooth as they come. He's mature well beyond his years. That's had a lot to do with his success. He's got a great baseball mind, but he's still eager to learn."
-- Jim Saul, 1997

"He's got good touch on his pitches-- fastball, changeup, curve. Very intelligent. Asks a lot of questions. Just a class person. I think he has all the ingredients to be a fine major league starting pitcher in the future."
-- Leo Mazzone, Atlanta Braves pitching coach, March 29, 1997

"In Bruce you're talking about someone who can really pitch. His ability to pitch far exceeds his age, and with that ability to pitch has come physical development, and with that physical development has come several more miles per hour on his fastball, a sharper break on his curveball and the ability and confidence to throw the changeup."
-- Deric Ladnier, 1997

"All the pressure was on and he responded. Everyone was watching him. There were scouts and general managers from a lot of major league teams there. The pressure didn't bother him a bit. He just elevated his game; he was spectacular. We were a loss away from being eliminated and he pitched the game of his life. That's what you like to see in a young kid-- whether he can handle the pressure."
--Brian Snitker, Macon Braves manager, after Chen's Game 3 SAL playoff victory, 1997

"He's a rising star. I love watching young kids pitch. That's the other half of spring training, seeing the youngster with the good reputation for pitching get better. It's like watching your kids grow up."
-- Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves manager, spring training 1998

"If, for some reason today, Chen had to be in our rotation, it wouldn't scare me. He's got great makeup. There are other guys who might be a little shaky, but not him."
-- Bobby Cox

"It [Macon] was probably the most publicized staff in minor league baseball. And he [Bruce] handled all that. He was a kid that always kept you in the game. He was our most valuable pitcher. Everyone said he was a special pitcher when he got here, and he didn't disappoint anyone."
-- Brian Snitker

"Chen gave up a lot of home runs [during spring training] and all that, but he's shown enough poise and enough stuff on the side and in certain innings. He's going to be a quality starter soon. He's not that far away at all."
-- Bobby Cox

"He's only 20 years old, but you'd never know that by being around him. You'd swear Bruce was a 28- or 30- year- old guy. He's very mature for his age. He doesn't get rattled, and he has a game plan every time he goes on the mound. Anything he does, whether it's working on the side between starts or during the game, he knows what he wants to do. He sticks to it and he has success."
-- Randy Ingle, Greenville Braves manager 1998

"He's the complete package-- great makeup, great stuff. That's why we've known for awhile now that Bruce Chen is intelligent enough and has enough savvy to be able to do whatever he needs to do in order to progress."
-- Deric Ladnier, July '98

"He doesn't need a college degree. His left arm will earn him all the money he ever needs. He's one of the best I've ever seen. He has a chance to be better than Tom Glavine, or at least as good. He has three outstanding pitches-- an old-type curve, fastball, and change-- plus control. And he's all business out there. I can't find a flaw. Oh, his fastball's not a blazer, but his other pitches make it seem like it is."
--Bill Fischer, R-Braves pitching coach, August '98