Pena trying to kick start his career in Las Vegas

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, June 19, 2001 | 10:36 a.m.

It was only three years ago that catcher Angel Pena was named the Dodgers' Minor League Player of the Year after a stellar double-A season at San Antonio.

But the strong-armed 26-year-old now finds himself at a crossroads when it comes to his big league future.

Pena was designated for assignment by the Dodgers last week and cleared waivers. That means not one of the 29 other major league teams felt he was worth a $20,000 investment.

Talk about your fall from grace. From can't-miss prospect to not even getting a sniff from another big league team.

But if Pena's first two games with the Las Vegas 51s are any indication, some of those same teams could be kicking themselves in the future.

Pena hit his second mammoth home run in two games on Monday night at Cashman Field, a 475-foot bullet that went under the scoreboard in left-center to help lead the 51s to a 12-4 victory over the Salt Lake Stingers. Pena had also crushed a tape-measure shot in his Las Vegas debut on Sunday night at Nashville.

"I think he's an extremely talented guy," Las Vegas manager Rick Sofield said. "He's very athletic. He's got the whole package when he's focused on the task. We're trying to get him back on track."

Pena had fallen into disfavor in Los Angeles because of questionable work and eating habits. Although listed at 5-10 and 228 pounds, at first glance he looks like he'd make a pretty fair nose guard for UNLV.

The Dodgers are hoping his recent demotion to triple-A will help Pena work to get back into his 1998 form, when he hit .335 with 22 homers and 105 RBIs in 126 games at double-A San Antonio.

"Any time you get sent down it's a wake-up call," Sofield said. Dodger manager Jim Tracy laid it on the line with Pena before he departed for Las Vegas.

"I said, 'Angel, you're going to find out how the rest of the industry views you (when Pena was placed on waivers),' " Tracy said. "There were 29 other clubs that had a shot at him, and there were no takers. I think that would send me back to the drawing board and say there's a heck of a lot more for me to give to make myself the player I'm capable of becoming."

Barry flew to Oregon to handle the situation. "I don't know when he'll be back," Sofield said. "On things like this, we tell them to take as long as they need."

Right-hander Eric Gagne, making his first Las Vegas start after being demoted by the Dodgers last week, picked up the win. He allowed two runs and seven hits over six innings.