Freed from the American League and the Yankees’ logjam in the infield, Ramiro Pena is showing what he can do getting regular playing time for the Braves.
Pena had just 313 at-bats over the past four seasons with the Yankees. That was a function of playing in the AL and playing behind Yankees stars Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano.
Pena, signed by the Braves as a free agent in December, already has 80 at-bats in 40 games this season. In his past 14 games before Monday, Pena was hitting .406 (13 of 32) with a double, a triple, two home runs and eight RBIs.
The production has earned Pena more consistent playing time, and he said the two go hand in hand.
“I feel like I’m part of the team pretty much every day,” Pena said Monday before the Braves played the Pirates. “It’s great for me. I feel good. Because as a player, the more often you play, the more often you get better. That’s what you need, as a player, you need to play. If you don’t play it’s tough to get as sharp as you need to be and in a good position.”
Entering Monday Pena had played 67.1 innings at third base, 56 at shortstop and 50.1 at second, according to Baseball Reference. He had no errors in 80 total chances.
“Ramiro is a great utility player,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “You can put him anywhere you want in that infield. I feel real, real comfortable with him… . We really appreciate him; we use him. He’s a valuable National League player.”
Pena came up through the Yankees’ system as a shortstop and said he’s comfortable playing at third because batted balls come at him with “the same speed, same rotation, same spin” as at shortstop.
“Second base for me has been a little bit tougher because everything is the other way,” he said. “It seems like backwards. At the beginning it was tough for me to get used to second but now I feel better.”
Ayala, Martinez update
Braves relievers Cristhian Martinez (shoulder) and Luis Ayala have spent the past few days at Turner Field but that was because the Braves had a break in the extended spring training schedule in Orlando with the draft approaching. Gonzalez said neither is close to returning, though Ayala is the closer of the two.
Ayala has been on the DL since April 30 with an anxiety disorder related to high blood pressure symptoms. Since then, he was also diagnosed with a bacterial infection. Ayala, who has lost eight pounds, said he is feeling better and is focused now on regaining his arm strength.
