LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – After having major shoulder surgery in late June that prevented him from playing any winter ball, Braves infielder Ramiro Pena was concerned that it might take some time for him to get his timing back as a hitter this spring.
Plenty of others, including a sizable portion of the fan base, worried that he might not be at full strength before the season began.
So much for concerns.
Pena has hit .364 (16-for-44) with a team-high 10 extra-base hits including nine doubles, which led the National League before Wednesday.
“I feel good,” he said. “I’m getting good (at-bats). I feel great. And it’s getting better the more I play.”
The versatile veteran’s surgically repaired right shoulder – the second time he’s had it operated on in his career — hasn’t been a problem at the plate or in the field. As for his timing, it was never the issue that he thought it might be after going so long without facing live pitching.
He doubled in his first plate appearance of the spring, and has three doubles and a triple in his past eight at-bats.
It was just what the Braves had hoped for from Pena, whom they are counting on to be their primary utility player after he hit .278 with nine extra-base hits (three homers) in 50 games and 97 at-bats last year before tearing his labrum making an off-balance throw from third base.
“I was a little bit concerned because I usually play winter ball,” said Pena, 28. “I thought it was going to be tough for me, because I usually play winter ball and have my timing down. I went seven or eight months without seeing a pitch this year and I thought it was going to be tougher. I just tried to concentrate, be patient, see some pitches at the beginning. It was good.”
He spent the winter rehabbing and working out in Phoenix instead of going home to Mexico and playing in the winter league.
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