Wily Modesto Peña Gutierrez (born January 23, 1982) is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners, and in NPB for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Orix Buffaloes. At 6 feet, 3 inches in height and nearly 300 pounds, the right-handed batting and throwing Peña is considered a pure power hitter best known for his long-distance home runs and high strikeout rate.

Professional career

Originally signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in , Peña signed with the New York Yankees about a year later and was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for third baseman/designated hitter Drew Henson and outfielder Michael Coleman in .

Cincinnati Reds

Pena debuted with the Reds as a September call-up in , and got a single while pinch hitting in his first major league at-bat. Peña proved his label as a power hitter, hitting a home run in his second major league game, off Chicago Cubs pitcher Steve Smyth.

From through , Peña was a fourth outfielder with the Reds, and saw substantial playing time in center field covering for the often injured Ken Griffey Jr., and backing up Austin Kearns in right field. Over his career in Cincinnati, Peña batted .248 with 51 home runs and 134 RBIs in 302 games. Peña went unclaimed and declined an assignment to the minor leagues so he was unconditionally released.

New York Mets

On April 20, , Peña signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. He was released on June 22, 2009.

San Diego Padres

On July 19, 2010, Peña was signed to a minor league deal by the Padres and assigned to Triple-A Portland. As of mid-June, he was hitting .356 with 21 homers and 62 RBIs for the team's Triple-A affiliate in Reno. He was called up on June 21 and hit a home run that night in his first major league game in 3 years.

In a game against the Detroit Tigers on June 24, Pena launched a go-ahead homer that traveled an estimated 454 feet into the left-field seats at Comerica Park to give the Diamondbacks a 7–6 lead and the eventual victory.

Four days later, in a game at Chase Field with the Cleveland Indians tied at 4 in the bottom of the ninth inning and Ryan Roberts on third base, Peña powered a walk-off homer into the seats in left field giving the D-Backs a 6–4 win.

On July 15, Peña was designated for assignment. He was released on July 24.

Seattle Mariners

Pena signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on July 27, 2011. The Mariners purchased his contract on August 13. In his final major league action, he batted .209 with 2 home runs in 22 games. He elected free agency on October 30.

In 76 minor league games that year, Pena hit 25 home runs with 77 RBI, with a slash line of .358/.440/.712.

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

thumb|250px|Peña with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On November 29, 2011, Pena signed a two-year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The team released him at the end of spring training.

Chiba Lotte Marines

On June 6, 2017, Pena signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of NPB. In 70 games in his final professional season, he batted .242 with 15 home runs in 70 games.

References

  • Career Home Run Map

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