Season Over: Carlos Pena Has Surgery on Broken Fingers

Despite Pena about to miss the last 25 games of the season for the Rays, he still leads the American League in home runs with 39. Is it possible he still wins the home run crown?

Entering Wednesday night’s contest, Pena had a four-homer lead on the Yankees’ Mark Teixeira. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no player in the live-ball era (since 1920) has led his league in home runs despite missing at least 25 games to end the season. Two league leaders did miss the season’s final 20 games. They were Dick Allen in 1974 and Jimmie Foxx in 1939.If Pena is to lead the A.L. in home runs when the season is all said and done, it’ll take a lot of luck -- and one poor-hitting Mark Teixeira.

Carlos Pena’s season is officially over. He had season-ending surgery on his two broken fingers today:

Pena was injured Monday in New York when he was hit by a pitch from Yankees ace CC Sabathia. Dr. Doug Carlan performed surgery Thursday, inserting pins into the first baseman’s left index and middle fingers.No matter how many times you hear this story, the word “ouch” always comes to mind.