Angel Peña
Encyclopedia
Ángel Peña [PAY-nyah] was a Major League Baseball
catcher
.
Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers
as an amateur free agent
in 1992, Peña made his major league debut with the Dodgers on September 8, 1998, and appeared in his final game on June 1, 2001.
At one point in his career, Peña was heralded as the catcher of the future for the Dodgers. He initially was to take the spot of the traded Mike Piazza
. However, poor conditioning and the emergence of future All-Star
Paul Lo Duca
spelled the end of Peña's days as a Dodger, and subsequently as a major league catcher. Pena was released by the Dodgers on October 15, 2001. He briefly played in the San Francisco Giants
minor league system and in independent baseball leagues after that but is now out of baseball.
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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1992, Peña made his major league debut with the Dodgers on September 8, 1998, and appeared in his final game on June 1, 2001.
At one point in his career, Peña was heralded as the catcher of the future for the Dodgers. He initially was to take the spot of the traded Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....
. However, poor conditioning and the emergence of future All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
Paul Lo Duca
Paul Lo Duca
Paul Anthony Lo Duca is a television personality and a former Major League Baseball catcher. Previously, Lo Duca played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Florida Marlins , New York Mets , and Washington Nationals...
spelled the end of Peña's days as a Dodger, and subsequently as a major league catcher. Pena was released by the Dodgers on October 15, 2001. He briefly played in the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
minor league system and in independent baseball leagues after that but is now out of baseball.