BlueBaron

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Carlos Pena doesn’t see himself becoming a one-hit wonder.

The AL comeback player of the year thinks he can put together another strong season for Tampa Bay, even if he doesn’t duplicate his gaudy statistics from 2007.

The 29-year-old slugger set team records with 46 home runs and 121 RBIs last year. He also became the first player in major league history to hit 40 or more homers the season after being released.

“Last year was a magical year, no doubt about it,” said Pena, who in 12 months went from being a non-roster invitee to spring training to a guy with a new $24.125 million, three-year contract.

“But this year there is a blank canvas in front of me, and I intend to paint a beautiful picture. … It’s so funny, I keep telling myself, `Let the kid inside of me play. Get out of the way. Let him play.’ And that’s what I intend to do. I know if I do that, the picture cannot help but be beautiful.”

Pena homered once in 18 games for Boston in 2006, when he spent most of the season in Triple-A with the Red Sox and New York Yankees. He hit 27 homers and drove in 82 runs for Detroit in 2004, but slipped to 18 homers and 44 RBIs the following season and was released by the Tigers in March 2006.

The Rays, grasping for help at first base, signed Pena in January 2007. He was reassigned to the minors late in spring training, but wound up on the opening-day roster because of an injury to Greg Norton.

To say the least, he’s made the most of his opportunity.

Pena confident he can build on success with Rays - MLB - Yahoo! Sports