January 5, 2011 at 7:28 PM
Red Sox sign RHP Tony Pena, Jr.
According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, the Red Sox have signed pitcher Tony Pena, Jr. to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Pena, who first made it to the major leagues as a shortstop, converted to pitching in 2009 after struggling mightily at the plate over parts of four seasons. Last year in the San Francisco Giants organization, Pena had success with Double-A Richmond, posting a 2.53 ERA and striking out 41 in 46.1 innings, but struggled with Triple-A Fresno, getting hit to a 6.60 ERA and striking out just 21 in 30.0 innings.
Pena's name should be familiar to Sox fans. His father, Tony Sr., was the Red Sox' starting catcher from 1990 to 1993.