thePULSETwice the Penas, Twice the Pitching Power
By Kimberly Dunbar
Eddie and Alex Pena may not share any blood despite sharing a last name, but there is no doubt that they share the same goal: to bring a championship back to the Worcester Tornadoes.
“You can expect to see us not only go out and give 100 percent every night, but to play the game right,” said Alex Pena, a pitcher for the Worcester Tornadoes.
In fact, Eddie and Alex are both pitchers, and were members of the 2005 Canadian American League Championship team. Alex returns to the team for his third year after spending spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, while Eddie is returning to the Tornadoes after a stint in the
San Diego Padres system last year.
“People think we are brothers all the time, but he’s just a copy,” joked Alex. The two are actually good friends, and are excited to be reunited. “It’s nice to play with him again. I was happy to see him because we have all become a family, and we do a lot together.”
Eddie feels the same way, labeling Alex a great teammate and friend. “It’s great to be back with a fellow Pena,” he said. “Plus, he’s always good for a couple of laughs!”
Having fun is one of the team’s priorities, along with playing hard and making sure they play the game right. Alex said that in the past three years, the team has learned a lot about the game of baseball. This, he said, is due in part to a superb coaching staff headed by former Red Sox
player Rich Gedman, someone Alex said respects the game and plays it right.
“Three years ago we didn’t know who we were, but we have found ourselves,” said Alex, who is coming off a stellar 2006 season in which he pitched a team high 111.1 innings notching a 3.08 ERA. “We are a bunch of guys who respect the game and give it 100 percent. And it has worked out well for us.”
Alex said that while the team has changed, the mentality of the players has not. “We are focused on the process of winning and what we have to do each game in order to get the win. Most of the time it works,” he said, adding that this same attitude helped them capture the coveted championship crown in 2005. “If you get knocked down, you stand back up and go for it again. That is what this team is made of.”
Eddie Pena describes the Tornadoes as hardworking, energetic and dedicated, and encourages the fans to support their quest for another championship. “We are a team who works hard from the first pitch to the last pitch,” he said. Eddie added that he has been working both on and off the field to improve his game to help the team win the big prize. Last season, he pitched at three different levels in the Padres system, including five games with Triple-A Portland, and recorded 32 appearances with the Tornadoes in 2005.
But the Worcester Tornadoes aren’t all about business. One of the things Eddie missed most about the Tornadoes while he was gone last year, and one of his favorite parts about the team this year, is his teammates. “Guys like Matt Weagle and DJ Mattox serve as great entertainment on a daily basis,” he said. “Fans will have fun and will really be entertained when they come to a game,” promised Alex. “We can’t guarantee the result, but we can guarantee 100 percent effort every time we come out to play. Expect to see a team who will do anything and everything in their capacity to win the game and to play it right in order to make this city happy. Come see your team play, because we are YOUR team.”
For tickets to see the Pena pitchers and the rest of the Worcester Tornadoes, log on to www.worcestertornadoes.com or call 508-792-2288.
(Photos from top to bottom: Alex, Eddie)
