April 19, 2024 - 111 Games Today

Jhonatan Pena Named Midwest League Player of the Week

June 27, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - TinCaps outfielder Jhonatan Peña has been named the Midwest League Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. The award is selected by MiLB.com's staff.

Following last week's All-Star Break, Peña, a 22-year old from the Dominican Republic, began the season's second half with a bang and homered in each of the first four games (Thursday-Sunday). He's the first player in TinCaps history to do so.

Peña, who had one home run in his first 50 games this season, went 5-for-16 with 7 RBIs in the series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays). TinCaps hitting coach Vinny Lopez recently had Peña watch video of Seattle Mariners outfielder Nelson Cruz. Peña then adjusted his stance from being slightly closed to slightly open.

"He's the one that we've kind of changed his stance," TinCaps manager Anthony Contreras said. "Vinny Lopez and [assistant coach] Raul Padrón have been working with him day in and day out, trying to create a little bit more leverage in his swing. He's made the physical adjustments in the cage, he's done it in BP, and he's starting to see the results on the field. He's such a raw player that you can do that stuff with. He's a coachable kid who takes to that and he's making the most of it. We're so glad to see him succeeding."

The Padres signed Peña in 2012 out of the Dominican, where he played in 2013. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons in the Arizona Rookie League.

Peña is the second TinCap to be named the Midwest League Player of the Week this season. Catcher Austin Allen received the honor back in April after the opening week of the year.

Check out the Fort Wayne TinCaps Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...

Midwest League Stories from June 27, 2016

Clinton scores early and often to top Rattlers 10-2 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Captains Score in First Five Innings to Down Cubs in Opener - Lake County Captains
Chiefs Drop Second Straight in Series Opener - Peoria Chiefs
Gilbert, Naile Push Beloit Past Peoria - Beloit Sky Carp
Comeback Stopped Short at Quad Cities - Cedar Rapids Kernels
Abreu Dazzles, Bandits Hold on for Win - Quad Cities River Bandits
Green Gallops to Walk-Off Win - Great Lakes Loons
Whitecaps Snap Losing Skid in 9-5 Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
Hot Rods Drop Series Opener with Whitecaps - Bowling Green Hot Rods
Donatella Directs Cougars to First Victory of Second Half - Kane County Cougars
Loons' Walk-Off Halts Lugs' Winning Streak - Lansing Lugnuts
Lake County Tops South Bend 6-1 - South Bend Cubs
Dragons Snatch Series Opener, 5-0 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
Dragons Notch Shutout Win in Fort Wayne, 5-0 - Dayton Dragons
Bees Rally Falls Short at Kane County - Burlington Bees
Tejada Joins Lugnuts - Lansing Lugnuts
Bowman, Pickney, and Evans Concert and Car Show Start Fourth of July Weekend - Clinton LumberKings
Bowling Green Hot Rods Game Notes ( at WM) - Bowling Green Hot Rods
Jhonatan Pena Named Midwest League Player of the Week - Fort Wayne TinCaps
WWE Superstar to Attend Black and Brave Night at Modern Woodmen Park - Quad Cities River Bandits
TinCaps Game Notes: June 27 vs. Dayton (Game 75) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
Dragons GameDay for June 27 - Dayton Dragons
Rice Promoted to Myrtle Beach - South Bend Cubs
South Bend Sweeps Dayton with 11-1 Win - South Bend Cubs
Bloomquist Tosses Gem as Cubs Beat Dragons 5-0 - South Bend Cubs
Star from Disney Channel's Austin & Ally to Appear at Wednesday's Whitecaps Game - West Michigan Whitecaps

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Jhonatan Pena Named Midwest League Player of the Week

Midwest League Stories from June 27, 2016

Other Recent Fort Wayne TinCaps Stories