Player Page

Weather | Roster

Brayan Peña | Catcher | #25

Team: Detroit Tigers
Age / DOB:  (36) / 1/7/1982
Ht / Wt:  5'9" / 242
Bats / Throws: Switch / Right
College: None
Drafted: 2000 / UDFA / ATL
Contract: view contract details
Share: 

Latest News

Recent News

Brayan Peña has announced his retirement.
George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reported late last week that Pena would manage one of the Tigers' Gulf Coast League teams, so Peña took to Twitter to confirm that his playing career is indeed done. The 36-year-old played 12 seasons in the majors while batting .259/.299/.351 with 468 career hits and 23 homers. He made stops with the Royals, Braves, Reds, Cardinals, and Tigers. He spent all of last season with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate and failed to make the Tigers' Opening Day roster this spring, but he's now ready to make the next step in his career. Jun 19 - 9:35 AM
Source: Brayan Peña on Twitter

Highest Searched Players over the last 7 days


Player News

Date:
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

According to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com, Brayan Pena could transition to coaching full-time if he's unable to find a starting job in the minor leagues.

Pena was signed to a minor league contract by the Tigers over the winter, but was squeezed off the roster at Triple-A Toledo by the signing of Jarrod Saltalamacchia. He's already working some in a coaching capacity, and if he's unable to find an opportunity elsewhere, he will stay on and join the team's Gulf Coast League staff.
Source: M-Live.com
Apr 1 - 11:53 PM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Tigers reassigned C Brayan Peña to minor league camp.

Peña was trying to win a job as the backup backstop, but the 36-year-old catcher will instead likely open the year in Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers now have 36 players remaining in camp.
Mar 16 - 10:11 AM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Tigers signed C Brayan Peña to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Peña, who just turned 36 on Sunday, spent all of 2017 at Triple-A in the Royals organization, hitting .274/.308/.298 over just 134 plate appearances. He should open 2018 at Triple-A Toledo.
Source: Chris Cotillo on Twitter
Jan 8 - 6:58 PM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Royals reassigned C Brayan Pena to minor league camp.

Drew Butera will begin the year as Salvador Perez's backup. Pena figures to provide catching depth at the Triple-A level.
Source: Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter
Tue, Mar 28, 2017 12:20:00 PM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Royals signed C Brayan Pena to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

The Royals already have Salvador Perez in place as their starter behind the dish and Drew Butera as a backup, so Pena will provide some veteran insurance in camp. The 35-year-old was limited to just nine games in 2016 due to knee issues. He previously played with the Royals from 2009-2012.
Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter
Tue, Feb 7, 2017 08:29:00 AM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Cardinals released C Brayan Pena.

Pena was designated for assignment by St. Louis earlier this month to clear a roster spot for newly-signed reliever Brett Cecil. Pena logged only 14 total plate appearances for the Cardinals on a two-year, $5 million contract. The 34-year-old catcher will presumably have to settle for a non-guaranteed minor league deal this winter.
Mon, Nov 28, 2016 03:20:00 PM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Cardinals designated C Brayan Pena for assignment.

This was done to create a spot on the 40-man roster for the recently-signed Brett Cecil. The 34-year-old appeared in only nine games for the Cardinals during an injury-plagued 2016 campaign, hitting .154/.214/.231 in just 14 plate appearances. There's a chance they could attempt to re-sign him to a minor league deal.
Mon, Nov 21, 2016 03:19:00 PM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Cardinals activated C Brayan Peña from the 60-day disabled list.

Peña has been limited to just four games this season due to knee issues. It's unclear how much action behind the plate the knee would be able to handle at this point, but with Yadier Molina around Peña didn't figure to play much in September, regardless.
Sun, Sep 4, 2016 10:22:00 AM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Brayan Pena (knee) is expected to begin catching in rehab games later this week.

Pena is 2-for-9 in three games as the designated hitter at High-A Palm Beach. He is eligible to be activated from the 60-day disabled list on September 4 and the Cardinals are hoping the veteran backstop will be ready on that date. He's appeared in just four games this season for St. Louis after signing a two-year, $5 million free agent contract over the winter.
Source: Cardinals.mlb.com
Tue, Aug 23, 2016 10:22:00 PM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Brayan Pena (knee) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Friday with High-A Palm Beach.

Pena has been a big disappointment this season for the Cardinals, appearing in just four games after signing a two-year, $5 million free agent contract over the winter. Maybe he'll be ready to contribute in September.
Source: Jenifer Langosch on Twitter
Tue, Aug 16, 2016 04:57:00 PM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Cardinals transferred C Brayan Pena from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

The move clears a 40-man roster spot for top pitching prospect Alex Reyes. Pena has appeared in just four games this season for St. Louis because of knee problems.
Tue, Aug 9, 2016 04:09:00 PM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Brayan Peña (knee) has resumed taking batting practice and catching bullpen sessions.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny indicated that Peña has lost roughly 15 pounds since being placed on the disabled list a few weeks ago with soreness in his surgically-repaired left knee. However, it's unclear when he might be ready for a rehab assignment.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Fri, Jul 29, 2016 11:38:00 AM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Cardinals placed C Brayan Pena on the 15-day disabled list with left knee inflammation.

This is a troublesome one, as Pena underwent an early April surgery to remove loose cartilage from his left knee. He was just activated off the disabled list on June 28. The Cardinals have yet to name a timetable for the 34-year-old backstop's recovery.
Wed, Jul 6, 2016 06:11:00 PM
Brayan Peña - C - Tigers

Brayan Peña announced on Twitter that he plans to join the United States Army Reserve this offseason.

Pena became an American citizen in 2008 after defecting from Cuba in 1999. The age cutoff for the Army Reserve is 35 so Pena (34) is getting his service time in just before the buzzer. It's unclear what this means for Pena's baseball career, though at his age, this could be it for him in the major leagues. Pena missed most of the first half this season while recovering from knee surgery.
Source: Brayan Pena on Twitter
Tue, Jul 5, 2016 03:16:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1James McCann
2John Hicks
3Grayson Greiner
1B1Miguel Cabrera
2B1Dixon Machado
SS1Jose Iglesias
3B1Jeimer Candelario
LF1Niko Goodrum
2JaCoby Jones
3Victor Reyes
CF1Leonys Martin
RF1Nicholas Castellanos
DH1Victor Martinez
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Michael Fulmer
2Jordan Zimmermann
3Mike Fiers
4Matt Boyd
5Francisco Liriano
6Blaine Hardy
7Ryan Carpenter
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Shane Greene
2Joe Jimenez
3Alex Wilson
4Daniel Stumpf
5Buck Farmer
6Daniel Norris
7Warwick Saupold
8Louis Coleman
9Drew VerHagen
10Johnny Barbato