Pena Named NY-Penn League All Star [VIDEO]

Former UMaine shortstop Jeremy Pena has been selected to play in the New York-Penn League All Star Game next Tuesday.

Pena was a third round draft pick of the Houston Astros back in June, shortly after the Black Bears hosted the America East Conference Tournament. He gave up his senior year of eligibility to turn pro.

He plays for the Tri-City ValleyCats(Troy, NY), the Class A Short Season minor league team of the Astros. Pena has played in 36 games and is hitting .250 with a homer and 10 RBI. He has committed 10 errors and has a fielding percentage of .933.

The All Star game is set for State College, Pennslyvania.

Pena's Tri-City team is 28-22, good for first place in their NY-Penn League division (2 games ahead of the Red Sox Lowell Spinners team). The regular season runs through September 3rd.

This spring as a junior SS for the Black Bears Pena hit .308 with five homers and 28 RBI.

NOTE: Pen's UMaine teammate, catcher Chris Bec, is playing in the Northwest League for the Vancouver Canadiens. It is the Class A team for the Blue Jays. Bec was selected in the 5th round by Toronto. He has played in 29 games, hitting .225 with two home runs and 12 RBI.