Sports

Haverhill's Pena still has shot at All-Star berth

From Staff and Wire reports
Published: July 6, 2009

Haverhill's Carlos Pena is one of five players who are hoping for your vote for the final spot on the American League All-Star roster. With 32 players already selected from the American League and another 32 National Leaguers on the senior circuit roster, each league is looking to add one more player to the summer classic.

The final vote can be done at MLB.com between now and 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Tampa Bay Rays' Pena, the American league home run leader with 23, will be competing with Chone Figgins (Anaheim), Brandon Inge (Detroit), Ian Kinsler (Texas) and Adam Lind (Toronto) for that final AL spot.

Pena also leads the American League in runs with (58) and walks (54).

If Pena wins, he will be the second straight Rays player to become the Final Vote winner. Teammate Evan Longoria won it last year. Johnny Damon and Jason Varitek won it while with Boston in 2002 and '03, respectively, and Scott Podsednik and A.J. Pierzynski won it for the White Sox in '05 and '06, respectively.

If Pena is selected by fans, then the Rays' entire infield is on the All-Star team. Longoria, shortstop Jason Bartlett and second baseman Ben Zobrist already are selected.

Pena said he will be "the No. 1 vote giver so I can be the No. 1 vote getter." He added: "I would love to be on the All-Star team, that is the dream of any baseball player, to be part of that ballclub. Hopefully I will be."

Pena has never been selected as an all-star team during his nine-year career.

Photos

None/Staff Photographer

Carlos Pena