LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Ramiro Pena was having a breakthrough season for the Braves in 2013 before the utility player tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder and had season-ending surgery in late June.
This year the Braves are counting on him as their primary utility man, and he’s doing everything he can to ensure his twice surgically repaired shoulder will be good to go when the season begins — and stay that way.
“The good thing is when I got this one, it was on the other side of the labrum from the last one,” said Pena, whose first shoulder surgery was in 2007 as a Yankees minor leaguer. “I’ve strenghthened it more, which is good. I needed to do that.”
At the time of the surgery, the Braves thought Pena would return for spring training but weren’t certain if he’d be ready to start the season. It looks like he will be, as he’s taking part in full workouts in the early days of camp.
In his first season with the Braves, the switch-hitter batted .278 with nine extra-base hits (three homers) in 107 plate appearances over 50 games, and played multiple games at every infield position except first base.
It was big improvement over his four seasons with the Yankees, where he hit a combined .233 with 11 extra-base hits (two homers) and a .266 OBP in 338 plate appearances. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Pena, 28, was perfectly suited for the National League game, with its emphasis on double-switches and pinch-hitting.
Pena was 3-for-11 as a pinch-hitter and batted .313 (25-for-80) against right-handers with three homers, 12 RBIs and a robust .556 slugging percentage. He was 2-for-17 with no extra-base hits against lefties.
He’s an above-average defensive player who was injured making a throw from third base. He landed on the shoulder making a couple of diving stops not long before the injury, but said it was the throw that did the damage, and he felt the pain just after releasing the ball.
The Braves released Mat Gamel last week when the corner infielder reinjured his surgically repaired right knee while running before he even got to camp. They had considered him a possibility for backup third base and left-handed bench power, but general manager Frank Wren said the Braves have in-house options to replace him.
Switch-hitting first baseman/right fielder Ryan Doumit will also be a third catcher, and Wren said Pena is the backup third baseman and could play for an extended stretch at the position if starter Chris Johnson got hurt.
Tyler Pastornicky is a second utility-infield possibility if the Braves go with that setup. He’s coming back from knee surgery and could be limited for another week or two, making it uncertain if he’ll be ready when the season begins.
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