Carlos Pena

From SoSH

Carlos Pena was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to Massachusetts with his family when he was in elementary school. He signed with the Red Sox on August 16, 2006 as a free agent.

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Moments in the Sun 3 Awards 4 Trivia 5 Transactions 6 External Links

Overall Career

Pena was a highly-touted prospect, and was selected as the 10th overall pick in the 1998 Draft by Texas. Pena would spend the next 3 years in the Rangers farm system, but only played a total of 62 games in a Ranger uniform.

In 2002 Carlos was traded to Oakland along with Mike Venafro for for Jason Hart, Gerald Laird, Ryan Ludwick, and Mario Ramos. He was projected to be a rookie of the year candidate, and was still highly regarded at the time of the trade. Carlos struggled in Oakland, who had hoped he could fill the first base void left by departing free agent Jason Giambi. However, he lasted just 40 games at the Major League level with the A's and was demoted after a terrible 4-for-40 stretch in May.

In June of 2002, Carlos was on the move again, this time to Detroit. This was a more substantial deal that sent him (along with Jeremy Bonderman and Franklin German) to Detroit, Jeff Weaver from Detroit to New York, and Ted Lilly to Oakland. Pena got his shot at a starting job with the Tigers. He would play 75 games with Detroit for the remainder of 2002, 131 games in 2003, and 142 games in 2004. He showed the ability to hit for power, hitting 18 home runs in 2003, and 27 in 2004, but his batting average was consistently under .250. Although he put together some decent seasons in his first two years, he struggled with his consistency. He was eventually demoted to the minors in 2005, and he was unconditionally released by Detroit at the end of Spring Training in 2006. He signed a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees, but was never called up to the big club, and became a free agent upon exercising an out-clause in his contract.

On August 18, 2006, Carlos signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox. He reported to Triple-A Pawtucket and played first base for the Pawtucket Red Sox. On August 28, 2006, the Boston Red Sox purchased Carlos' contract from Triple-A Pawtucket. He went 9-for-33 in 18 games, with a home run a two doubles. He was released after the season ended.

On February 1, 2007, Pena signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and was invited to spring training. He hit his first home run for the Rays on April 11, off Rangers starter Robinson Tejeda, who five days earlier pitched seven shutout innings against the Red Sox. 2007 turned into a career year as he destroyed the Rays team single-season records for home runs (46), RBIs (121) and OPS (1.037), and hit a career-high .282 average over 148 games. He led the AL in at-bats per home run (10.7), won Comeback Player of the Year honors, the Silver Slugger at first base, and was 9th in MVP voting.

During the 2007 offseason, he signed a three-year, $24.1-million deal with the Rays.

Moments in the Sun

• On August 26, 2006, Carlos played in the 'Futures at Fenway' game for the Pawtucket Red Sox at Fenway Park. He hit a key two-run homerun in the eighth inning to win the game for Pawtucket.

• Carlos made his Red Sox debut on August 28, 2006.

• Less than a week later, on September 4th, Pena sent a 2-1 pitch from White Sox pitcher Brandon McCarthy into Fenway's right field grandstand for a 10th inning, game-winning solo shot sending the Red Sox to a 3-2 victory. The homerun, which came in his sixth game since being called up to Boston, was his first (and only) in a Red Sox uniform.

Awards

• 2007 American League Comeback Player of the Year
• 2007 American League Silver Slugger (First Base)

Trivia

• Carlos was one of just four players to hit 3 or more homeruns in a single game in 2003. The others were Geoff Jenkins, Aaron Boone and Richie Sexson.

• Pena was one of 5 players in 2004 that had 6 hits in a single game. The others were Frank Catalanotto, Raul Ibanez, Joe Randa, and Omar Vizquel

Transactions

• June 2, 1998: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed July 24, 1998.
• January 14, 2002: Traded by the Texas Rangers with Mike Venafro to the Oakland Athletics for Jason Hart, Gerald Laird, Ryan Ludwick, and Mario Ramos.
• July 5, 2002: Traded as part of a 3-team deal by the Oakland Athletics with Franklyn German and Jeremy Bonderman (PTBL) to the Detroit Tigers. The New York Yankees sent Ted Lilly, John-Ford Griffin, and Jason Arnold (minors) to the Oakland Athletics. The Detroit Tigers sent Jeff Weaver to the New York Yankees.
• March 26, 2006: Released by the Detroit Tigers.
• April 15, 2006: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.
• August 16, 2006: Released by the New York Yankees.
• August 17, 2006: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox to a minor league contract.
• February 1, 2007: Signed as a Free Agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a minor league contract.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
• Carlos Pena at ESPN.com