Ramiro Peña
Encyclopedia
Ramiro Peña Gauna is a Major League Baseball
utility infielder
for the New York Yankees
.
In , Peña made the Yankees opening day
roster, beating out Angel Berroa
to be the utility infielder
. He made his major league debut on April 6, 2009, appearing in the game as a pinch runner
. On April 9 he got a hit
in his first major league at bat
, off Chris Ray
of the Baltimore Orioles
. On April 14 against the Tampa Bay Rays
, Pena started his first career game at third base
, going 0 for 3 with a walk.
On April 30, Peña got his first career run batted in
in the bottom of the 8th inning against Justin Speier
of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by hitting a double
down the right field line.
With the acquisition of Eric Hinske
on June 29, 2009, Peña was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees to get regular at-bats and learn to play in the outfield. Manager Joe Girardi
said he expected Peña to be back with the Yankees later in the season. He was recalled to the Yankees on August 7.
Peña hit his first major league home run on September 28, 2009 off of Kansas City Royals
pitcher Luke Hochevar
at Yankee Stadium
. The Yankees present in the dugout when Peña connected quickly arranged, before Peña returned to his place on the bench, to act as if nothing had taken place and appear to give Peña the "silent treatment". On a signal from Jorge Posada
, however, the silent treatment ended and the bench erupted in celebratory cheers for the rookie infielder.
Peña was a member of the Yankees 2009 World Series
championship team which defeated the Philadelphia Phillies
in 6 games.
Peña was assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the 2011 season. On May 6, he was recalled to the majors after Eric Chavez
was placed on the disabled list.
On July 18, 2011, Peña required an emergency appendectomy.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
utility infielder
Utility infielder
A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually one who does not have a regular starting role on the team and who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base...
for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Baseball career
Peña was signed by the Yankees out of the Mexican League in 2005.In , Peña made the Yankees opening day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
roster, beating out Angel Berroa
Angel Berroa
Ángel Maria Berroa Selmo is a Dominican professional baseball infielder. Berroa was selected as the 2003 American League Rookie of the Year.-Early career:...
to be the utility infielder
Utility infielder
A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually one who does not have a regular starting role on the team and who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base...
. He made his major league debut on April 6, 2009, appearing in the game as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
. On April 9 he got a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in his first major league at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, off Chris Ray
Chris Ray
Christopher Thomas Ray is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life and career:...
of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. On April 14 against the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
, Pena started his first career game at third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, going 0 for 3 with a walk.
On April 30, Peña got his first career run batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in the bottom of the 8th inning against Justin Speier
Justin Speier
Justin James Speier is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He attended Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona. Upon graduation from Brophy Prep, Speier attended the University of San Francisco where he played catcher for the Dons. He also attended...
of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by hitting a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
down the right field line.
With the acquisition of Eric Hinske
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
on June 29, 2009, Peña was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees to get regular at-bats and learn to play in the outfield. Manager Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi
Joseph Elliott Girardi is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the New York Yankees. During a 15-year playing career, he played from 1989–2003 for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals...
said he expected Peña to be back with the Yankees later in the season. He was recalled to the Yankees on August 7.
Peña hit his first major league home run on September 28, 2009 off of Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
pitcher Luke Hochevar
Luke Hochevar
Luke Anthony Hochevar is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals organization of Major League Baseball. He is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee.He throws and bats right-handed.-High school:...
at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
. The Yankees present in the dugout when Peña connected quickly arranged, before Peña returned to his place on the bench, to act as if nothing had taken place and appear to give Peña the "silent treatment". On a signal from Jorge Posada
Jorge Posada
Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta is a Major League Baseball player who is currently a free agent and has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He served as the Yankees primary catcher for most of his career, though following off-season knee surgery, he was moved to designated hitter for...
, however, the silent treatment ended and the bench erupted in celebratory cheers for the rookie infielder.
Peña was a member of the Yankees 2009 World Series
2009 World Series
The 2009 World Series was the 105th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National League and defending World Series champions, and the New York Yankees, champions of the American League...
championship team which defeated the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 6 games.
Peña was assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the 2011 season. On May 6, he was recalled to the majors after Eric Chavez
Eric Chavez
Eric Cesar Chavez is an American Major League Baseball infielder. Chavez has played for the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees...
was placed on the disabled list.
On July 18, 2011, Peña required an emergency appendectomy.