Brayan Peña facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brayan Peña |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Peña with the Detroit Tigers in 2013
|
|||
| Catcher | |||
| Born: January 7, 1982 Havana, Cuba |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| May 23, 2005, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 26, 2016, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .259 | ||
| Home runs | 23 | ||
| Runs batted in | 164 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
Brayan Eduardo Peña (born January 7, 1982) is a Cuban-American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). Brayan played for several teams, including the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Today, he is a manager for a baseball team called the West Michigan Whitecaps. This team is connected to the Detroit Tigers.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Brayan Peña was born and grew up in Havana, Cuba. He was a talented young player. He even played for the Cuban National team for players under 18 years old. He went to Espa Julio Trigo for school.
Brayan grew up with another professional baseball player, Yunel Escobar. In 1999, Brayan moved from Cuba to the United States.
Brayan Peña's Professional Baseball Journey
Playing for the Atlanta Braves
Brayan Peña joined the big leagues in 2005 with the Atlanta Braves. He got his chance because another player, Eddie Pérez, was injured. Brayan played his first MLB game on May 23, 2005. It was a home game against the New York Mets, and the Braves won 8-6.
In that game, Brayan started as the catcher. He got his first hit in the second inning. For the rest of 2005, he played in 18 games. He had four runs batted in (RBI).
From 2006 to 2008, Brayan played part-time for the Braves. He hit his first Major League home run on May 28, 2006. It was a solo home run in a game the Braves won 13-12. In May 2008, the Braves decided to let him go.
Time with the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals picked up Brayan Peña in May 2008. He didn't play in a game for them right away. In 2009, he was called up from a minor league team. He played in 64 games that year. He hit six home runs and had 18 RBI.
In 2010, Brayan earned a spot on the Royals' main roster. He was a backup catcher for most of the season. He played in 60 games and had 19 RBI. In 2011, he shared the starting catcher role. He played in a career-high 72 games.
Brayan signed a new contract with the Royals in 2012. He played in many games that year. In November 2012, the Royals made a change to their roster. Brayan was then available for other teams to pick up.
Joining the Detroit Tigers
On December 10, 2012, Brayan Peña signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers. He was the backup catcher for Alex Avila in 2013. That year, he played in 71 games. He had his best batting average of his career, hitting .297. He also hit four home runs and had 22 RBI.
Playing for the Cincinnati Reds
Brayan Peña signed a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds in November 2013. He played for them in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, he shared catching duties with Devin Mesoraco. He also played first base when Joey Votto was injured. By the middle of 2014, Brayan was having a great year. He had 12 doubles, which was a career high for him. He became a free agent in November 2015.
With the St. Louis Cardinals
In November 2015, Brayan Peña agreed to a two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was meant to be the main backup for Yadier Molina. In December 2015, Brayan went on a special trip to Cuba. He went with other former Cardinals players and MLB officials. This was the first MLB visit to Cuba since 1999. It was an important step to help improve relations between Cuba and the United States.
Brayan started the 2016 season on the injured list. He had surgery on his left knee. On July 5, 2016, Brayan announced he wanted to join the Army Reserve. However, he found out he couldn't because of his contract. Instead, he chose to become an ambassador for the troops. In November 2016, the Cardinals decided to let Brayan go.
Return to the Kansas City Royals
On February 7, 2017, Brayan Peña signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. This included an invitation to spring training. He played in 43 games for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. He chose to become a free agent in November.
Second Time with the Detroit Tigers
On January 9, 2018, the Detroit Tigers signed Brayan Peña to another minor league contract. He was released in June. Brayan then announced his retirement from professional baseball on June 18, 2018.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Brayan Peña started coaching. He managed the Tigers' Gulf Coast League West team. This team won the Gulf Coast League Championship in 2018. In 2019, he managed the Low-A Connecticut Tigers. On November 12, 2019, he was named the manager of the West Michigan Whitecaps. He continues in this role today.
See also
- List of baseball players who defected from Cuba
