HAVERHILL - Carlos Pena has always been regarded as one of Haverhill High School's most famous and talented graduates. Now he's one of the richest, too.

The 29-year-old Major League Baseball first baseman has reached a preliminary agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays on a three-year contract worth more than $24 million, his father, Felipe Pena, confirmed yesterday.

"He's been given the opportunity to feel that he belongs," he said from his Haverhill home.

Carlos Pena, who moved from the Dominican Republic to Haverhill with his family in 1992, has been the source of much pride in the region.

Mayor James Fiorentini said the city has been planning something to honor the American League's Comeback Player of the Year since October. He said Pena has told city officials that he will be in Haverhill in February or March for his sister's wedding, and that the city will host a "Carlos Pena Day" then.

The mayor said the event will likely be at Haverhill Stadium and include an opportunity for people to meet the local baseball hero. The city is planning to tie the event to a fundraiser in support of Haverhill public education, the mayor said. The money will likely be used to repair the old stadium or reduce fees that high-school students are required to pay to play sports, he said.

Pena's new contract, contingent on passing a physical, will pay him $6 million this year, $8 million next year and $10,125,000 in 2010. Pena earned $1.2 million last year.

"I believe that with Tampa, he's home," Felipe Pena said. "They welcomed Carlos there. They allowed him to be in a good environment."

As a result, he said, his son flourished.

Last season, the first baseman set Tampa Bay records in home runs (46), RBIs (121) and walks (103). For his efforts, he won an American League Silver Slugger Award and was named AL Comeback Player of the Year.

Haverhill's John Trask, who coached Pena at the Babe Ruth level, is elated for his former player.

"Carlos is one of the nicest people I've ever meet," said Trask, who stays in touch with Pena by sending him a birthday card every year in May. "To have something good like this happen to such a good person is unusual these days."

Trask's best baseball memory of Pena is from a game at Haverhill's Swasey Field in 1993 when Pena was 15.

"He hit a ball up on the hill, at least 340 feet in the air," Trask said. "I've never seen another 14- or 15-year-old hit a ball that far."

It was clear early on that Pena's talents were best suited for first base or the batter's box, Trask said.

"He bugged me the whole year to pitch, so I finally put him in a game," Trask said. "He hit two batters, and back to first base he went."

Now with his sixth MLB organization, Pena has blossomed in Tampa.

"He felt totally comfortable there," Felipe said. "That's a major reason he had that kind of performance in 2007."

Pena's turnaround truly is remarkable. In 2006, after the Detroit Tigers released him, he spent five months in the New York Yankees organization. New York released him Aug. 16, a day before the Red Sox signed him. He played 18 games for Boston, but was not re-signed last offseason.

Last February, Tampa invited Pena to spring training as a non-roster player. An injury to first baseman Greg Norton created a spot for him on the opening day roster. He worked his way into the starting lineup soon after.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.