Former Texas Rangers First Baseman Carlos Pena Joins MLB Network

Former Texas Rangers first baseman Carlos Pena has joined the MLB Network family as a studio analyst.

More from Texas Rangers News

• 3 Texas Rangers outfield trade targets not named Bryan Reynolds
• Did Jacob deGrom really mean what he said at his Texas Rangers press conference?
• Martin Perez accepting the qualifying offer looking like solid deal for the Rangers
• 4 outfielders the Texas Rangers can still pursue this winter
• Is a six-man rotation in the Texas Rangers’ near future?

Carlos Pena began his major league career 14 years ago with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers drafted him in the first round of the 1998 MLB Draft. Pena made his ML debut with the Texas Rangers on September 5, 2001, going hitless in his three at-bats. Carlos Pena ended the season with a batting average of .258, three home runs, and 12 RBI in 22 games played.

In January 2002 the Texas Rangers traded Carlos Pena to the Oakland Athletics who then traded him to the Detroit Tigers in July.

Pena ended the 2002 season tied with Omar Infante for longest hitting streak (9/8-21) by an American League rookie. In Pena’s four seasons with the Tigers (2002-2005) he hit the longest home run (estimated 461 ft.) in Comerica Park history. At the end of his time as a Tiger he had a batting average of .244, 75 home runs, 212 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 427 games played.

Carlos Pena spent 5 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays (2007-2010, 2012), and made the 2009 All-Star team. Throughout his career he played for 8 different teams including the Boston Red Sox (2006), Chicago Cubs (2011), Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals in 2013.

The Texas Rangers signed Carlos Pena to a minor league deal on June 17 and called him up on June 24. He played 18 games before being designated for assignment, and then released on August 17. Pena a very memorable home run before that on June 25, take a look:

Carlos Pena’s long career was not a an easy one. He made his way from the minors to the big leagues only to be sent down again, but he never gave up. He kept striving and learning while keeping a positive attitude. We wish him nothing but success with his new baseball family at MLB Network.

You can see Carlos Pena’s MLB Network debut this Thursday, December 4 on MLB Now (Live at 2:00 p.m. ET) and MLB Tonight (Live at 6:00 p.m. ET).

Only 125 days until your Texas Rangers play their first game of the 2015 season!