Royals sign free agent catcher Francisco Pena to Major League deal

KANSAS CITY, MO (November 17, 2013) - The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed minor league free agent catcher Francisco Pena to a major league contract and added him to the 40-man roster.

Pena, 24, had spent six years in the New York Mets' organization, splitting 89 games between Las Vegas (AAA) and Binghamton (AA) in 2013. He hit .257 for the Las Vegas 51s with 15 doubles, nine homers and 39 RBI in 68 games last year. In 57 contests behind the plate, he committed just three errors and threw out 30 percent (15-for-50) of would-be base stealers. He was a member of the World Champion Dominican Republic squad at the 2013 World Baseball Classic, going 1-for-2 with an RBI in two tournament games.  

Originally signed as an international free agent by the Mets, Pena is the son of former Royals' manager Tony Pena, while his older brother, Tony Jr., played in parts of three seasons for Kansas City (2007-09).