"After 17 years of living my childhood dream, I am honored to walk away from the game I love, with the team that I most cherished," said Pena, who last played in 2014, with Texas. "The Tampa Bay Rays will forever hold a very special place in my heart. It felt like home. It felt like family."
Pena spoke at a pregame news conference in which he was surrounded by family and friends. Then, prior to the game vs. the Orioles, Pena took to the field wearing his familiar No. 23 to throw out the ceremonial first pitch after a video tribute played on the scoreboard.