Manny Piña cherishing his postseason opportunity
By César Augusto Márquez
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Manny Piña has a special pre-game ritual: he has to see his kids.
“I give them la bendición (the blessing), and I ask them to wish me luck,” Piña told La Vida Baseball.
If his children can’t be at the ballpark, Piña video chats so he can see them. It reminds him that his motivation for playing is his children after a long, winding road to the National League Championship Series.
Breaking In
Piña, 31, is one of a handful of late bloomers on Milwaukee’s roster. He originally signed with the Texas Rangers in 2004 and was traded to Kansas City five years later. He made his major league debut in 2011 but appeared in only five combined games for the Royals in 2011 and 2012.
After spending time in the Mariners and Tigers organizations he was traded to Milwaukee before the 2016 season.
Finally, in 2017, Piña became a primary catcher in the majors, appearing in 107 games for the Brewers. And now he’s enjoying the first postseason of his career.
“Of course, one dreams of becoming an everyday player in the major leagues, that will always be the goal as a player,” Piña said. “When I arrived to Milwaukee, I knew it would be difficult to play every day. But I had a good spring and was able to earn the trust of manager Craig Counsell. Now we are in the race for the World Series.”
“It has been a blessing to be part of this team, which placed their trust in me to play every day.”
Making an important change
Piña wasn‘t always a catcher. He started playing shortstop, resisting the catcher’s gear growing up in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Yet, he went unsigned at 16 years old when most prospects are signed as amateur free agents.
“I have to thank Jose Luis [Montero],” he said. “He was the one that suggested I move to catcher and take advantage of my offense and my good arm. After I made the change I got the attention of the Texas Rangers, who gave me my first opportunity to play professionally.”
Montero, an agent in Venezuela, has also worked with Carlos Carrasco, Carlos Rivero and prospects like Justin López and, more recently, Everson Pereira.
“We saw that Manny had a great arm, maturity, and leadership, characteristics of a catcher,” Montero said. “That’s why we decided to try to convince him to try that position. You’ve seen the result,”
Long Roads to the Majors
A journey involving four organizations over 12 years would have left many players disheartened. But Piña, like a few of his teammates in Milwaukee, took advantage of his new opportunity.
“Before boarding the bus one day, I commented to (Brewers first base coach) Carlos Subero that there are a lot players like Jesús Aguilar and me that developed well after when it was expected of us” Piña said. “But thank God we did.”
“I also think that I have matured. When the Royals called me up I was young man who didn’t have responsibilities beyond taking care of myself. Now it’s very different. I have a son Emmanuel who is seven and a daughter Jimena who is two. They are my responsibility and I have to make a future for them. That is great motivation to keep progressing,” he noted.
A Reliable Catcher
Although his overall offensive numbers in 2018 (.252/.307/.395) were not as striking as in 2017 (.279/.327.424), Piña closed out the regular season strong. Over his last 39 games he hit .295 with a .756 OPS, something he attributed to his manager regularly penciling him into the Brewers lineup.
“The reason I’m doing well is the confidence that my manager has placed in me,” Piña said of Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell. “It’s different to go out and play with the pressure of not being able to make mistakes versus when you have the opportunity to play knowing that you can make mistakes and tomorrow will be another day, another game.”
Knowing Counsell has confidence to write him into the Brewers postseason lineup has Piña playing with confidence. He’s shared time with another journeyman, veteran Erik Kratz, behind the plate in the NLCS, and has been productive. Entering Game 6, Piña is 2 for 4 with a double and four walks.
Piña will call his kids again before the game, as he has done every day since returning to the big leagues. With the confidence instilled in him by his kids and manager, he will be ready for whatever role he’s needed to play as the Brewers attempt to force a Game 7.
Featured Image: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport