another opportunity to race in front of a home crowd in my

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Carlos Pena is back in the major leagues with the team that drafted him in the first round quite a while ago. Pena rejoined the Rangers on Tuesday, a week after signing a minor league deal and going to Triple-A Round Rock, and 13 years after making his major league debut with Texas. He was the 10th overall pick in 1998. "God is good, man. Here I am, where it all started for me and its truly very special," Pena said the home series opener against Detroit on Tuesday night, when he was batting sixth and playing first base. "Just to think back where it all started. ... This is crazy. I was looking at a picture I had of my first at-bat ever and it was with a Rangers uniform. My wife sent it to me this morning." The Rangers designated first baseman/outfielder Brad Snyder for assignment when they purchased the 36-year-old Penas contract from Round Rock. Since losing Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland to season-ending injuries, Snyder was splitting time at first base with Donnie Murphy. Neither Snyder nor Murphy had played first base in the major leagues before this season. "We just brought in a first baseman to play first base, and he has a presence," manager Ron Washington said. "He may be a little older, but he has presence. Throw something in the wrong spot, and he will hurt you. He knows how to play around that bag. He knows what to do, he knows where to be. Its second nature to him." In seven games at Round Rock, Pena hit .333 (8 for 24) with one home run. The only person to go longer between games for the Rangers was Sammy Sosa, who made his major league debut for Texas in 1989 and then played his final season there in 2007. Fielder had a cervical fusion of the C5 and C6 disks in his neck last month. Moreland had ligament reconstructive surgery and bone realignment in his left ankle Monday, and the team said he went home to Mississippi. Fielder and Moreland are expected to be ready for spring training next season. After playing 22 games for the Rangers, Pena was traded to Oakland that winter. He has also played for Detroit, Boston, Tampa Bay, the Chicago Cubs, Houston and Kansas City. He was an All-Star in 2009 with Tampa Bay, when he had an AL-high 39 homers. Pena went to spring training with the Los Angeles Angels, but was released March 23 after hitting .139 in 20 spring games. "I was training. I was staying ready. I had faith that something was going to happen," he said. "At the same time, I didnt want to force it. I wanted to make sure it was right and it was the right spot, the right situation." Vince Carter Jersey . This has become the Raptors mantra as they embark on a new era with a new regime and, in the not-so-distant future, a new image. Jeremy Lin Raptors Jersey . PETERSBURG, Florida – Its been almost seven years since the Blue Jays last won a series at Tropicana Field. https://www.raptorsrookiesshop.com/Malachi-Richardson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The Thornhill, Ont., native, who is ranked 11th in the world, said hed hoped he would be ready when Canada begins its World Group first-round tie against Japan in Tokyo on Friday. Marc Gasol Raptors Jersey . - The Minnesota Vikings have ruled Christian Ponder out for Sundays game at Baltimore, because the quarterback has not yet passed all of his post-concussion tests. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Jersey . Felton pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He admitted he knowingly had a large-capacity ammunition magazine and a semi-automatic pistol without a license.Siobhan-Marie OConnor is fired up to face some of the best swimmers in the world in the European Championships. The 20-year-old from Bath has already stormed to one gold in London this week, not in the individual events but in the mixed 4x100m medley relay on Tuesday night.OConnor is part of the 26-strong squad in Brazil this summer desperate to improve on the two bronzes (Becky Adlington) and silver (Michael Jamieson) won by Team GB at London 2012.Londons Aquatic Centre is hosting Europes top swimming talent this week with OConnor next competing in the 200m individual medley on Wednesday and Thursday.It will be the perfect stage for OConnor and her British team-mates to pit themselves against some of the fiercest competitors they are likely to face in four months at the Olympics.OConnor, a Sky Academy Sports Scholar in the four-year build-up to Rio, told Sky Sports News HQ: Im really looking forward to the Europeans. Its so great to have another opportunity to race in front of a home crowd in my favourite pool which holds so many amazing memories! Siobhan-Marie OConnor opens up to SSNHQ about her Olympic selection I am in hard training preparing for Rio but this is a great chance to race against some of the best swimmers in Europe and see what happens.ddddddddddddIm also really looking forward to being united with the GB Olympic team and racing together on home soil.This will be the second Games for her OConnor as she looks to build on her stunning form over the last year. She also won bronze in the 200m individual medley at the World Championships in Russia last summer.Read Siobhans latest blog where she describes her elation at Olympic selection and her painful qualification journey.WHATS COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS17 - 20 MAY: Siobhan-Marie OConnor, Swimming European Championships19 - 27 MAY: Savannah Marshall, World Championships in Kazakhstan Also See: About the Scholarship Meet the athletes Blogs Videos Galleries ' ' '