On May 27, 2004, Carlos Pena had one of the greatest days a batter has ever enjoyed in the big leagues. That day, in Kansas City, the Detroit first baseman collected six hits, two of them home runs, as the Tigers won 17-7. His six hits matched a Tiger nine-inning record set by Ty Cobb. That big day not withstanding, Pena gained the reputation as a streak hitter, suffering through slumps producing torrid hitting binges. Originally selected as the 10th pick overall by the Texas Rangers in the 1998 June Draft, he was later traded in two blockbuster deals to Oakland, and then Detroit, in 2002.
Quotes From Carlos Pena
"Every time I get the opportunity to play, I'm going to give it all I have and just have fun."
Carlos Pena in Minor League Baseball
After hitting .181 with three homers and 14 RBI, Pena was sent down to AAA Toledo on May 31, 2005. Playing in a winning atmosphere and with far less pressure in Toledo, Pena found his swing and was recalled to Detroit on August 19. In his first game back he belted a pair of home runs, including one on the first pitch he saw back in the major leagues. Two days later he hit another home run as Detroit swept the Toronto Blue Jays in Comerica Park.
Best Season: 2004 In 142 games, Pena hit a team-high 27 homers and drove in 82 runs. He also scored 89 runs and slugged .472 with 22 doubles. He came on late, as is typical of Pena, hitting 14 of his 27 homers in the final two months of the season.
Factoids Carlos Pena was named Most Valuable Player of the Cape Cod League in 1997, and also received the Sportsmanship Award.
Description Pena looks like a great ballplayer. He's built solid, but not too muscular. He's handsome, has a beautiful left-handed swing, and he plays first base with great range. Despite inconsistent playing time, he was one of the finer first basemen in the American League in the early 2000s.
Scouting Report Pitch him down and in and in with the breaking ball or high and sinside with the fastball, but don't miss with the fastball or he can hurt you. Has trouble with slow stuff almost everywhere.
Born Pena was born on May 17, 1978, in Santo Domingo
Batted: Left Threw: Left
Primary Position: 1B
Primary Team: DET
College: Northeastern
Related Players Jeff Weaver
Feats Enjoyed a six-hit, two homer, five-RBI, game on May 27, 2004, in Kansas City against the Royals. He collected 13 total bases in the game... On May 19, 2003, at Jacobs Field against the Tribe, Pena belted three homers and drove in seven runs in the Tigers 10-9 loss.
Batting Feats
May 27, 2004: 6 Hits...
Notes Through 2004, Pena had hit 10 homers in 82 at-bats in Cleveland's Jacobs Field... Through 2005, Pena had a career batting average of .216 in April and May... Entering 2005, Pena was hitting .291 for his career in June and had hit 35 of his 67 (52%) homer sin August/September.
Transactions Selected by Texas Rangers in the 1st round (10th pick overall) of the free-agent
draft (June 2, 1998); Traded by Texas Rangers with Mike Venafro to Oakland Athletics in exchange for Jason Hart, Gerald Laird, Ryan Ludwick and Mario Ramos (January 14, 2002); Traded by Oakland Athletics with Franklyn German to Detroit Tigers as part of 3-team
trade in which Detroit Tigers sent cash to Oakland Athletics; New York Yankees sent
Ted Lilly, Jason Arnold and John-Ford Griffin to Oakland Athletics; Detroit Tigers sent Jeff Weaver to New York Yankees(August 22, 2002) ; and Oakland Athletics sent Jeremy Bonderman to Detroit Tigers(August 22, 2002).
Home Run Facts Through August 21, 2005, Pena had hit at least two homers in a game six times: once in 2001, once in 2003 (three homers on May 19 vs. Cleveland), three times in 2004, and once in 2005.
Matchup Data Through 2004, Pena was 10-for-17 (.588) with three doubles and two homers against Jamie Moyer of the Mariners.
Replaced Randall Simon
Best Strength as a Player Range to his right at first base and digging throws out of the dirt.
Largest Weakness as a Player Hitting the breaking ball.
