Jose Pena’s Season Review: Miami Marlins Pitching

In 2014, Jose Pena allowed eight hits in 33 2/3 innings of rookie ball.

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 229 of 286.

Jose Aquilino Pena is a 6′, 190 lb. right-handed pitcher from Guayubin, Dominican Republic, population 32,586. Five major league players have started their professional careers in Guayubin, including recent pitcher Luis Perez (Toronto Blue Jays, 2011-2013).

Born on March 22nd, 1991, Pena was signed through free agency on July 13th, 2009 by the New York Yankees. He spent nine seasons in the Yankees minor league system, most of the first eight at the rookie-level. The only exception to that was in 2014, when he split the year between the rookie level, the short-season-A Staten Island Yankees and the high-A Tampa Yankees. He posted a stat line for the ages, striking out 42 in 33 2/3 innings and earning a 0.80 ERA and a 0.505 WHIP. Opponents managed a slash line of just .077/.169/.115 in 121 plate appearances.

In 2017, Pena finally spent the entire season out of the rookie level, between Tampa, the double-A Trenton Thunder, and the triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders. He got 76 batters to wave in 63 1/3 innings, and went 3-3 with a 3.13 ERA overall. Pena was granted free agency from the Yankees on November 7th, 2017.

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On January 3rd soon afterward, Pena signed a minor league deal to pitch in the Miami Marlins minor league system. He was initially assigned to the double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Southern League. After giving up four hits in his first inning of work in a 14-6 loss to the Jackson Generals on April 6th, Pena buckled down. Over his next 18 appearances, he struck out 26 in 23 1/3 innings, with a .152 opposing batting average and a 1.16 ERA. Pena was pushed up to the triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes in the Pacific Coast League for an appearance on June 27th.

In five contests with the Cakes, Pena allowed only three hits in 8 1/3 innings before getting sent back to the Shrimp for the remainder of the campaign. On July 24th, Pena took a loss by surrendering seven runs without recording an out in a 14-5, 10-inning loss to the Montgomery Biscuits.

Pena held opponents to a .210 average through the season, with 45 K’s in 45 2/3 innings and a 4.73 ERA. On August 23rd, the Miami Marlins released him, and he didn’t again appear in affiliated ball for the rest of the season. He’s since appeared with the Estrellas de Oriente in the Dominican Winter League.

Currently a free agent, Pena is free to sign with any organization, affiliated or otherwise.

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