Pena, Young win comeback awards

NEW YORK, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena and Washington's Dmitri Young, both first baseman, were selected the American League and National League comeback players of the year.

Pena was a non-roster invitee to the Devil Rays' spring training and went on to set franchise records for home runs (46), runs batted in (121), walks (103), on-base percentage (.411) and slugging percentage (.627). His 46 home runs ranked fourth in the American League.

Pena had played just 18 games in 2006 and hadn't played a full season in the major leagues since 2004.

Young was also a non-roster participant in spring training but made the Nationals' team. He ended up with his second career All-Star team selection, recorded a career-best .320 batting average -- eighth in the National League -- with 13 home runs and 74 RBI.

He was with the Detroit Tigers in 2006, appearing in 48 games, but was released after having legal and alcoholism problems.

The comeback player of the year awards are voted on by writers for MLB.com.