Topic: Wily Mo Pena

Wily Modesto Peña (born January 23, 1982 in Laguna Salada, Dominican Republic) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball. At 6 feet, 5 inches in height and nearly 300 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 Cincinnati Reds for third baseman/designated hitter Drew Henson and outfielder Michael Coleman in 2001. He debuted with the Reds as a September call-up in 2002, and got a single while pinch hitting in his first major league at-bat. Peña proved his label as a power hitter, hitting a home run in his second major league game off Chicago Cubs pitcher Steve Smyth.

From 2003 through 2005, Peña was a fourth outfielder with the Reds, and saw substantial playing time in centerfield covering for the often injured Ken Griffey, Jr., and backing up Austin Kearns in right field. In his career in Cincinnati, Peña batted .248 with 51 home runs and 134 RBIs in 302 games.