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Pena Comes Up Gold At 1st

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By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: November 7, 2008

When Carlos Pena learned he'd become the first Gold Glove winner in Rays history, he relayed the news from executive vice president Andrew Friedman to his wife, Pamela, in mid-phone call.

"It was kind of funny because Andrew was hanging on the phone waiting for us to stop celebrating and screaming," Pena said Thursday after being named to the American League team at first base.

"My wife grabbed the phone and started calling my parents and calling my brothers and calling her family. I mean, that's something that means a lot to me, and my family knows how much it means to me. I couldn't be more thrilled."

Pena, the 30-year-old former journeyman whom the Rays signed as a minor-league free agent in January 2007, led all first basemen and infielders with a .998 fielding percentage. He made only two errors in 1,099 chances, getting 991 putouts and helping on 117 double plays.

As good as those numbers are, they don't speak to the numerous plays Pena made on difficult hops, throws in the dirt and high throws that might otherwise have gone as base hits or throwing errors.

Friedman noted that Pena has received a lot of attention for his offense - 31 home runs and 102 RBIs this year - "so it's great to see him recognized for his defense as well."

Pena's first Gold Glove comes after a season in which pitching and defense were the hallmarks of a team that went from having the worst record in baseball to winning the AL East and reaching the World Series.

Fellow infielders Jason Bartlett, Evan Longoria and Akinori Iwamura often received more notice for their defense, but it was Pena who was recognized with a Gold Glove.

"I think playing next to such incredible defensive players makes me a better defensive player, as well as I would think my teammates would say the same thing," Pena said. "I feel like we all won the Gold Glove as a team. We have a very good defensive ballclub, and we work in synergy."

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at

(813) 259-7994.

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