Red Sox Sign Reliever, Former SS Tony Pena Jr.

Multiple sources are reporting that the Red Sox have signed right-handed reliever and former shortstop Tony Pena Jr. (the son of former Red Sox All-Star catcher Tony Pena) to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. The 29-year-old was converted to a relief pitcher in 2009 and pitched in the Giants’ minor league system last year. He went 3-2 with a 2.53 ERA for Double A Richmond and then posted a 6.60 ERA in 24 games for Triple A Fresco. Pena Jr. pitched one perfect, scoreless inning for the Royals in 2008 with a strikeout, but that was before he was officially converted to relief. His best offensive year came in 2007 when he hit .267 in 152 games for Kansas City. Here’s a hilarious, yet factual AP report detailing his switch from the plate to the mound from July 26th, 2009: “Tony Pena Jr. has hit like a pitcher for the past two years, so the Kansas City Royals plan to convert him to one. Pena, who was the Royals’ shortstop on opening day in ...