Pena reports to camp, spreads love
First baseman Carlos Pena, center, is flanked by his agent Scott Boras, left, and Chicago Cubs Vice President and General Manager Jim Hendry during a news conference at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010. Pena and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract. Pena spent the last four seasons with Tampa Bay. (AP Photo/Roberto Gonzalez)
PORT CHARLOTTE — Carlos Pena took his 20-minute drive to Charlotte Sports Park on Thursday to reflect on what once was, and what shortly would be again. Pena, once the Rays first baseman and fan favorite, was
returning to Tampa Bay after a season spent with Chicago, and he could not have been happier.
“I’ve been smiling constantly and letting it all sink in,” Pena said. “This is something good. The (love from the fans) was the most overwhelming thing of all. I just kind of sit back and absorb it. This is flattering, just noticing how many people are happy for me to be back on this team, it just fuels me, and I want to make sure I honor that.”
