| Ramiro Peña | |
|---|---|
 Peña with the Atlanta Braves | |
| Sultanes de Monterrey – No. 19 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: (1985-07-18)18 July 1985 (age 39) Monterrey, Mexico | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: 6 April, 2009, for the New York Yankees | |
| NPB: 2 May, 2017, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp | |
| MLB statistics (through 2016 season) | |
| Batting average | .252 |
| Hits | 162 |
| Home runs | 9 |
| Runs batted in | 63 |
| NPB statistics (through 2017 season) | |
| Batting average | .216 |
| Hits | 8 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 2 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Ramiro Peña Gauna (born 18 July 1985) is aMexican professionalbaseballinfielder for theSultanes de Monterrey in theMexican League. He is also signed to theVenados de Mazatlán of theMexican Pacific League, where he plays during the winter. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theNew York Yankees,Atlanta Braves, andSan Francisco Giants, and inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theHiroshima Toyo Carp.
Peña was signed by theNew York Yankees out of theMexican League in 2005.[1] He played for theTampa Yankees in the High–AFlorida State League andTrenton Thunder of the Double–AEastern League that season and in 2006. He played for Trenton in 2007 and 2008, and was selected to participate in the 2008All-Star Futures Game.[2]
In 2009, Peña made the YankeesOpening Day roster, beating outÁngel Berroa to be theutility infielder.[3] He made his major league debut on 6 April 2009, appearing in the game as apinch runner. On 9 April he got ahit in his first major leagueat bat, offChris Ray of theBaltimore Orioles. On 14 April against theTampa Bay Rays, Pena started his first career game atthird base, going 0 for 3 with awalk. On 30 April, Peña got his first careerrun batted in in the bottom of the 8th inning againstJustin Speier of theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim by hitting adouble down the right field line.[4]
With the acquisition ofEric Hinske on 29 June 2009, Peña was optioned to theTriple-AScranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of theInternational League to receive regular at-bats and learn to play in the outfield. ManagerJoe Girardi said he expected Peña to be back with the Yankees later in the season.[5] He was recalled to the Yankees on 7 August[6] and sent back down on 21 August.[7]
Peña was recalled in September when the rosters expanded.[8] He hit his first major league home run on 28 September 2009, off ofKansas City Royals pitcherLuke Hochevar atYankee Stadium.[9]
Peña was added to the postseason roster afterMelky Cabrera was injured in Game 4 of the2009 World Series.[10] The Yankees then went on to defeat thePhiladelphia Phillies in 6 games.
Peña entered the 2010 season as the team's backup shortstop and utility infielder.[11] He stayed with the big league club all year, but only managed to hit .227/.258/.247, one of the worst offensive seasons in team history.[12] He was sent to Triple-A's Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees to start the 2011 season.[13] On 6 May, he was recalled to the majors afterEric Chavez was placed on the disabled list[14] and sent back down on 12 May.[15] He was recalled again in June when Derek Jeter went on the Disabled List.[16] During this time, he committed three errors in a game against theCincinnati Reds on 22 June.[17] On 18 July 2011, Peña required an emergencyappendectomy.[18]
Ramiro was recalled on 25 July 2012, to replaceAlex Rodriguez on the roster after Rodriguez sustained a fractured left pinkie during a game in Seattle.[19] He was optioned back to Triple-A on 1 August 2012, after the Yankees acquiredCasey McGehee from thePittsburgh Pirates.[20] He wasdesignated for assignment on 1 September.[21]
After the 2012 season, Peña became afree agent. He signed a one-year contract worth $550,000 with theAtlanta Braves.[22] On 20 June 2013, Peña was placed on the disabled list for right shoulder pain; it was later revealed that he would require right shoulder surgery, ending his season.[23] After the season, Peña signed a one-year deal with the Braves, avoiding arbitration.[24] Peña was designated for assignment by the Braves on 19 November 2014.[25] He was outrighted to the Triple-AGwinnett Braves on 27 November 2014.[26] Pena refused the assignment and elected for free agency.[27]
Peña signed a minor league deal with theSan Diego Padres on 26 January 2015.[28] On 1 April, he was reassigned to minor league camp.[29] He played for theEl Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres' Triple-A affiliate.
On 13 December 2015, Peña signed a minor league deal with theSan Francisco Giants.[30] On 10 June 2016, the Giants purchased Peña's contract to replace the injuredKelby Tomlinson.[31] Peña batted .299 in 30 games for the Giants starting games at second base, third base and shortstop. Peña was designated for assignment on 30 July 2016, when Hunter Pence was activated from the DL.[32]
On 30 January 2017, Peña signed with theHiroshima Toyo Carp ofNippon Professional Baseball.[33]
On 26 February 2018, Peña signed with theSultanes de Monterrey of theMexican League.[34] He was a mid-season All-Star in 2018. In 52 games, Peña hit .288/.355/.478 with nine home runs, 36 RBI, and five stolen bases.
Peña played in 93 games for the Sultanes in 2019, he hit .349/.384/.540 with 13 home runs, 64 RBI, and six stolen bases. He was also named MVP of the All–Star game.[35] Peña did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[36]
Peña returned to action in 2021, playing in 47 games and batting .332/.385/.521 with seven home runs, 27 RBI. In 2022, he made 72 appearances for Monterrey, hitting .267/.330/.405 with seven home runs, 32 RBI, and four stolen bases.
Peña played in 78 contests for the team during the 2023 campaign, batting .319/.363/.486 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. He was also named the Defensive Player of the Year.[35] In 2024, he played in 74 games for the Sultanes, slashing .302/.373/.471 with seven home runs, 45 RBI, and four stolen bases.
In 2025, Pena re-signed with Monterrey for a seventh season.
During his tenure with the team, the Sultanes reached the finals three times and won one championship.[37]
Peña was selected to play for the Mexico national team in the2013 World Baseball Classic and 2019 exhibition games againstJapan.[38]
He has also played for Tomateros de Culiacán in the2020 Caribbean Series and the2021 Caribbean Series.[39]
Peña played for Mexico at the2020 Summer Olympics (played in 2021) in Tokyo.[40]
