Wily Mo Peña
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 8
Outfielder
Born: (1982-01-23) January 23, 1982 (age 30) Laguna Salada, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 2002 for the Cincinnati Reds
Career statistics (through 2011 Season)
Batting average	.250
Home runs	84
Runs batted in	240
Teams
Cincinnati Reds (2002–2005) Boston Red Sox (2006–2007) Washington Nationals (2007–2008) Arizona Diamondbacks (2011) Seattle Mariners (2011) Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2012–present) (NPB)

Wily Modesto Peña (born January 23, 1982 in Laguna Salada, Dominican Republic) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball. At 6 feet, 5 inches in height and nearly 300 pounds, the right-handed batting and throwing Peña is considered a pure power hitter known for his tape-measure home runs and high strikeout rate.

Professional career[link]

Cincinnati Reds[link]

Originally signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1998, 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 2001. He debuted with the Reds as a September call-up in 2002, and got a single while pinch hitting in his first major league at-bat.^[1] Peña proved his label as a power hitter, hitting a home run in his second major league game off Chicago Cubs pitcher Steve Smyth.^[2]

From 2003 through 2005, Peña was a fourth outfielder with the Reds, and saw substantial playing time in centerfield covering for the often injured Ken Griffey, Jr., and backing up Austin Kearns in right field. In his career in Cincinnati, Peña batted .248 with 51 home runs and 134 RBIs in 302 games.

Boston Red Sox[link]

Peña during his time with the Red Sox.

The Reds traded Peña to the Boston Red Sox during spring training in 2006 for pitcher Bronson Arroyo. Over the course of the season, Peña again served as a fourth outfielder and one half of a platoon in right field. He batted a career-high .301 with a personal best on base percentage of .349 in 299 plate appearances. Following an injury to Coco Crisp, Peña filled in at center field. On May 27, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list after surgery was required for an injured tendon in his left wrist. On July 18, he was activated from the disabled list. After platoon-mate Trot Nixon injured his biceps on July 30, Peña played more frequently in right field. The next day he fell a double short of hitting for the cycle in a 9-8 win over the Cleveland Indians.^[3] He hit .301 with 11 home runs in the 2006 season. Following the season, Peña played for the Dominican Republic in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

The only action Peña saw in 2007 with the Red Sox was filling in for Crisp and J.D. Drew at center and right field. Pena hit a grand slam off of closer Chris Ray of the Baltimore Orioles to help the Red Sox to a 5-2 victory on April 26. Throughout the season Peña was rumored to be on the trading block, including in a deal at the trade deadline that did not go through.

Washington Nationals[link]

Peña signing autographs for fans at Turner Field in Atlanta as a member of the Nationals in 2008.

On August 17 Peña was traded to the Washington Nationals, with the Red Sox receiving 25 year-old first baseman Chris Carter and the Arizona Diamondbacks receiving Emiliano Fruto and cash considerations. Peña hit well for the Nationals, and finished 2007 with a cumulative 289 at bats, 13 home runs and he batted .259 with a .319 on-base percentage and a .439 slugging percentage.

His $2.3 million signing bonus is now the third largest ever for an amateur free agent. In December 2007, he signed a one-year contract with the Nationals for $2 million with a mutual option for 2009 of $2 million.

On March 28, 2009, Peña was designated for assignment by the Nationals and placed on waivers.^[4] Peña went unclaimed and declined an assignment to the minor leagues so he was unconditionally released.^[5]

New York Mets[link]

On April 20, 2009, 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.

Bridgeport Bluefish[link]

On May 30, 2010, Pena began playing for the Bridgeport Bluefish, an independent team in the Atlantic League. During the offseason Wily played for the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League.^{[citation needed]}

San Diego Padres[link]

On July 19, 2010, Peña was signed to a minor league deal by the Padres, he was assigned to Triple-A Portland.

Arizona Diamondbacks[link]

Peña signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the 2011 season.^[6] 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 game in 3 years.

In a game against the Detroit Tigers on June 24, Pena launched a go-ahead homer an estimated 454 feet deep 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, Wily Mo powered a walk-off homer into the seats in left field giving the D-Backs a 6-4 win.

On July 15, 2011, Peña was designated for assignment.^[7] He was released on July 24.^[8]

Seattle Mariners[link]

Pena signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on July 27, 2011.^[9] He had his contract purchased on August 13.^[10] He elected free agency on October 30.

Fukuoka Softbank Hawks[link]

On November 29, 2011, Pena signed a 2 year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan.

Philanthropy[link]

In 2007, Wily Mo Peña and his MoPeace Foundation teamed up with Joslin Diabetes Center's Latino Diabetes Initiative for the Beisbol y Salud Latino Diabetes and Health Festival to educate Latino men, women and children about type 2 diabetes.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wily Mo Peña

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Wally Backman
Second baseman
Born: (1959-09-22) September 22, 1959 (age 52) Hillsboro, Oregon
Batted: Switch	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1980 for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
May 14, 1993 for the Seattle Mariners
Career statistics
Batting average	.275
Hits	893
Runs batted in	240
Teams
New York Mets (1980–1988) Minnesota Twins (1989) Pittsburgh Pirates (1990) Philadelphia Phillies (1991–1992) Seattle Mariners (1993)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (1986)

Walter Wayne Backman (born September 22, 1959) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He is best known for his time with the New York Mets from 1980-1988 and was a member of their 1986 World Series-winning team. Backman currently is the Manager for the Buffalo Bisons, the New York Mets AAA minor league Team.

New York Mets[link]

First round pick[link]

Backman was the Mets' first round pick in the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft (sixteenth overall). He was assigned to the New York-Penn League's Little Falls Mets upon signing, and batted .325 with six home runs in his first professional season. After batting .293 for the triple A Tidewater Tides in 1980, Backman received a September call up to the Mets. Making his major league debut starting at second base against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 2, Backman got a single in his first at-bat, driving in Claudell Washington for his first major league run batted in. ^[1]

After battling for three seasons to earn a starting job, Backman finally emerged as the Mets' starting second baseman in 1984. He batted .280, and finished second on the club to Mookie Wilson (46) with 32 stolen bases.

1986[link]

Prior to the start of the 1986 season, general manager Frank Cashen brought in Tim Teufel, a right-handed hitting infielder from the Minnesota Twins for Billy Beane, Joe Klink and Bill Latham. He and Backman formed a platoon at second base, and along with Wilson and Lenny Dykstra, provided a "spark" at the top of the Mets' line up, and set the table for the heavy hitters who batted behind them.

For his own part, Backman scored 67 runs, stole 13 bases and batted over .300 (.320) for the first time in his career for the team that won 108 games and took the National League East by 21.5 games. He batted .333 in the World Series against the Boston Red Sox and led off for the Mets in the now famous tenth inning of Game 6 with a fly out to Jim Rice.

1988[link]

Backman and Teufel were still platooning at second base in 1988 when the Mets won their division for the second time during Backman's tenure with the team. Backman batted .303 for the division winners, and the Mets won 100 games that season, taking the NL East by fifteen games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, the heavily favored Mets lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 National League Championship Series. Backman played respectably in the division series (.273 avg., 2 runs, 2 RBIs). However, following the season, the Mets sent him and Mike Santiago to the Minnesota Twins for Jeff Bumgarner, Steve Gasser and Toby Nivens, none of whom emerged as a major leaguer.

Pittsburgh Pirates[link]

Backman under-performed with the Twins, batting only .231 with one home run and 33 runs scored while driving in only 26 in 1989. After only one season in Minnesota, Backman signed as a free agent with the Mets' division rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates. With slick fielder José Lind already at second base for the Pirates, Backman received most of his playing time backing up Jeff King at third.

The Pirates opened the 1990 against the Mets at Shea Stadium. In front of his former home crowd, Backman went two for five with a single and triple and scored two runs in the Pirates' 12-3 victory over the Mets.^[2] Against the San Diego Padres on April 27, Backman accomplished the rare feat of six hits in a nine inning game.^[3] For the season, Backman batted .292 and scored 62 runs for a Pirates team that went 95-67, and took the division by four games over the Mets.

1991-1993[link]

Backman spent 1991 and 1992 with the Philadelphia Phillies. He signed with the 1992 National League Champion Atlanta Braves, for 1993, but failed to make the team out of Spring training. He joined the Seattle Mariners, but was released 38 games into the season with a .138 batting average with only two runs scored in 31 plate appearances.

Backman had a career .980 fielding percentage at second base.

Managing career[link]

After retiring as a player, Backman was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. Backman led the 2002 Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox double A Southern League affiliate) to a 79–61 record. In 2004, he led the Lancaster Jethawks, the Arizona Diamondbacks High A team, to an 86–54 record and was named Sporting News "Minor League Manager of the Year".

On November 1, 2004, Backman was promoted to manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks' major league squad.^[4] However, only a day later, reports surfaced that Backman had serious legal and financial problems. He had also been arrested in 1999 for DUI in Washington as documented on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. A year later, he was arrested in connection with an altercation in his home in Prineville, Oregon. In addition, Backman declared bankruptcy to avoid paying over twenty creditors, including the IRS.^[5] The Diamondbacks initially stood by him,^[6] but fired him on November 5 before ever managing a game. Managing partner Ken Kendrick said that Backman had lied about his past, and only learned about the extent of Backman's problems after media reports prompted the team to conduct its own investigation.^[7]

Backman began his managerial comeback with the South Georgia Peanuts of the independent South Coast League. His return to managing was documented by the TV series Playing for Peanuts. The Peanuts won their league with a 59–28 record. On June 26, 2007, during a game in Anderson, South Carolina, Backman was involved in a profane-laced tirade. After outfielder Doc Brooks was ejected for arguing balls and strikes, Backman confronted the home plate umpire criticizing his strike zone before being ejected as well. Backman then covered home plate with dirt and threw profanities at the umpires before returning to the dug-out where he threw bats onto the field as well as a bucket full of baseballs.

In December 2007, Backman became manager of the Joliet JackHammers.^[8] With the team in sixth place in the Northern League with a 24–42 record, he was fired on July 30, 2009.^[9] In October 2009, Backman's name circulated as a likely candidate for the Mets' double A managerial job with the Binghamton Mets; however, the Mets decided instead to promote Teufel from the St. Lucie Mets, and Backman was given the St. Lucie job.^[10] Two weeks later, the Mets changed their minds, and Backman was handed the reins to the Brooklyn Cyclones instead.^[11] Backman went on to lead the Cyclones to a league-best 51-24 record, winning the McNamara Division of the New York-Penn League by 12 games. However, the Cyclones were ultimately swept by the Tri-City ValleyCats in the league championship series.

Backman was a candidate to replace Jerry Manuel as the New York Mets' major league manager in 2011, having interviewed for the position with new General Manager Sandy Alderson. After a second round of interviews in which Backman was a finalist,^[12] however, the position went to Terry Collins. Backman was subsequently named manager of the Mets' double A affiliate, the Binghamton Mets.^[13]

In Backman's first season in Binghamton, the club had a 65-76 record. Backman remains highly regarded in the Mets organization, and has been promoted to manager of their AAA affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons^[14] for the 2012 season.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube

Scott Thorman
Thorman with the Braves in June 2007
Free agent
First baseman
Born: (1982-01-06) January 6, 1982 (age 30) Cambridge, Ontario
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 18, 2006 for the Atlanta Braves
Career statistics (through 2008 season)
Batting average	.222
Home runs	16
Runs batted in	50
Teams
Atlanta Braves (2006–2007)

Scott Robert Thorman (born January 6, 1982 in Cambridge, Ontario) is a professional baseball first baseman who plays for the Brantford Red Sox in the Intercounty Baseball League. Thorman was drafted in the first round, 30th overall in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves. Thorman played for Canada in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic and Thorman also played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Professional career[link]

Atlanta Braves[link]

Thorman steadily rose through the Braves organization, finishing the 2005 season with their Triple-A team, the Richmond Braves. Thorman made his major league debut on June 18, 2006. Thorman's first major league hit was an RBI single against Scott Downs of the Toronto Blue Jays on June 20, 2006.

Thorman earned his first multi-home run game on May 12, 2007 in a 9–2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. On September 22, Thorman hit a pinch-hit game-tying homer with 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Braves went on to win the game an inning later.

The Braves sent Thorman outright to the minors on March 28, 2008. Thorman became a free agent at the end of the season.

Milwaukee Brewers[link]

In December, 2008 Thorman was signed to a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and Thorman received an invitation to Spring Training.^[1] Thorman was released by the Brewers on April 4, 2009 after the Brewers acquired first baseman Joe Koshansky.^[2]

Texas Rangers[link]

On April 7, 2009, Thorman signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. Thorman was released on April 27.^[3] Thorman hit .188 with one home run and four RBIs in 11 games with the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks before Thorman's release.

Kansas City Royals[link]

Thorman signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals on May 21, 2009.^[3] Thorman hit .297 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in 97 games with the Triple-A Omaha Royals. On December 11, 2009 Thorman was re-signed by the Royals with an invitation to spring training.^[4]

Detroit Tigers[link]

On December 1, 2010, Thorman signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and played in 109 games for the Toledo Mud Hens in AAA, hitting .240.

Personal life[link]

Thorman's father died of cancer when Thorman was 12.^[5] Thorman has one child, a boy named Robbie, named after Thorman's father.^[5] Thorman has a wife, Kelly, who is expecting another.^[5]

References[link]

External links[link]

Baseball portal

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)