Wily Mo Pena |
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Wilfredo Modesto "Wily Mo" Peña (born January 23, 1982 in Laguna Salada, Dominican Republic), is a Major League Baseball player who is in the New York Mets organization. At 6 feet, 3 inches in height and 245 pounds, the right-handed batting and throwing Peña is considered a pure power hitter known for his tape-measure home runs and high strikeout rate.
Originally signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1998, Peña signed with the New York Yankees about a year later and was traded to the Reds for third baseman/designated hitter Drew Henson and outfielder Michael Coleman in 2001. He made his Major League debut on September 10, 2002. Because he was signed to a major league contract, Peña's path to the majors was rushed, and he ended up becoming a bench player in an already crowded Cincinnati outfield.
After getting some chances to play regularly in the Cincinnati lineup, Peña proved his label as a power hitter, hitting tape measure shots all over Great American Ball Park. Becoming a fan favorite, Peña's value also increased with each memorable blast.