Proper-hander Felix Pena has signed on with the Uni-Lions of Taiwan’s Chinese language Skilled Baseball League (h/t to CPBL Stats).
Pena, 35 later this month, signed with the Cubs out of the Dominican Republic as a global newbie and made his professional debut all the best way again in 2009. He progressively climbed the minor league ladder till he made his MLB debut again in 2016, when he debuted for Chicago and pitched decently in a quick cup of espresso on the huge league degree. The best-hander posted a 4.00 ERA (108 ERA+) in 9 innings that season, putting out 37.1% of opponents in his restricted enjoying time on the main league degree en path to a 2.70 FIP. He was utilized in a equally minor function with the Cubs in 2017, however that second journey to the majors left one thing to be desired by way of outcomes as he posted a lackluster 5.24 ERA (84 ERA+) in 34 1/3 innings of labor thanks partially to a bloated 11.6% stroll fee.
These struggles in 2017 led the Cubs to designate Pena for task shortly after the 2017 season got here to a detailed. He shipped to the Angels shortly thereafter, and wound up pitching for his new membership as a beginning pitcher for a lot of the 2018 season. His outcomes had been respectable sufficient, as effectively: in 92 2/3 innings of labor break up between 17 begins and two aid outings, Pena surrendered a 4.18 ERA (101 ERA+) with a 4.04 FIP. He struck out an honest 21.9% of opponents and, extra importantly, bought his stroll fee underneath management and allowed free passes at a 7.2% clip. That appeared to set Pena up for a crack at a full-season rotation job with the Halos in 2019, and he was a part of the membership’s Opening Day rotation at first of the 12 months.
Sadly for Pena, nevertheless, his first 4 begins of the 2019 season left a lot to be desired. Whereas his 4.15 ERA was respectable sufficient, Pena allowed 4 homers, surrendered seven walks, and hit three batters in simply 17 1/3 innings of labor whereas his strikeout fee dipped to 19.2%. That led the Angels to maneuver him right into a bulk function behind an opener, and he initially excelled within the function with a 3.03 ERA and three.18 FIP over his subsequent seven outings the place he struck out 28.5% of opponents in 32 2/3 frames. Issues took a flip for the more severe throughout a disastrous month of June, nevertheless, as his points with the lengthy ball resurfaced and he posted a ghastly 7.97 ERA in 5 appearances totaling 20 1/3 innings. He pitched higher (4.15 ERA, 3.48 FIP) as soon as the calendar flipped to July and even performed a key function in a mixed no-hitter towards the Mariners however noticed his season minimize quick by a torn ACL.
By the point baseball resumed in late July of 2020 after the pandemic shutdown, Pena had recovered from his ACL tear and was again on the mound with the Angels. He was confined to a brief aid function in 2020 however made the a lot of the function, posting a 4.05 ERA (113 ERA+) in 26 2/3 innings with glorious peripheral numbers together with a 3.00 FIP and a 25.2% strikeout fee towards a 7% stroll fee. That efficiency figured to earn Pena one other shot with the Angels in 2021, however a hamstring pressure delayed his begin to the season and he was torched to the tune of seven runs in lower than two innings of labor upon his return, prompting the Angels to outright him to the minor leagues.
That was Pena’s final time showing within the majors. After struggling badly at Triple-A by way of the rest of the 2021 season, the right-hander started the 2022 season with the Mets on a minor league deal however finally headed abroad to signal with the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles. He spent components of three seasons with the Eagles, posting a 3.98 ERA in 54 begins for the membership, however struggled to a 6.27 ERA in his last 9 KBO begins earlier this 12 months. That prompted Hanwha to launch Pena again in Could, however now he’ll get a recent begin in Taiwan the place he can present veteran innings to a membership that employed former huge leaguers Hector Perez and Logan Ondrusek final season.
