Before signing with the San Francisco Giants last offseason, Ramiro Peña was both a career journeyman and minor leaguer rolled into one. The New York Yankees signed Peña in December of 2005 out of the Mexican League, then touted as a slick fielding shortstop with excellent range and a bit of offensive upside. Before the 2006 season, he ranked as the No. 41 prospect of the Yankees’ farm system.
Despite batting .255 over three seasons in the minors, New York consistently promoted Peña, the only road block being a two-and-a-half year stint with the Trenton Thunder. Peña cracked the team’s Opening Day roster in 2009, but jumped back-and-forth between Triple-A and the majors.