Carlos' Corner: 'It's a special place for me'
Peña has fond memories of Haverhill, Mass.
Carlos Peña
Special to MLB.com

Carlos Peña, a 23-year-old rookie, was acquired by Oakland during the off season in a six-player trade with Texas. Expected to replace Jason Giambi as the A's starting first baseman, perhaps as soon as Opening Day, Peña is considered one of the top prospects in the game and is
providing for MLB.com an exclusive daily diary for the 2002 season. On Monday, he started at first base and went 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored against the Milwaukee Brewers. Before Oakland's morning workout, he addressed his connection with the people in his adopted hometown of Haverhill, Mass.


PHOENIX -- I moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic when I was 13-years-old. It was difficult, but the people in the town I moved to helped make the transition easier for me, so for that reason and many more, Haverhill will always hold a special place in my heart.

My uncle lived in Haverhill, so that was why we moved there and that was helpful as well, but the people there were tremendous to me. It's a humble little town. Actually, it's a big town, but it's the kind of community where everyone knows each other and helps each other out. That's my home, and I have very nice memories of Haverhill. It's a special place for me.

The Catholic Church there was very helpful to me. There were a lot of other children there who didn't speak English, other kids from the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico, so that allowed my to have somewhat of a social circle to build from. It was a pure, safe environment for me, and that's exactly what I needed at that time. I can't say enough about what the church did for me. It was instrumental in my transition to life in the United States.

It was the same at my high school, Haverhill High. The people there were so good to me. People would come up to me and ask if there was anything they could help me with, and I'm not just talking about the other Latin students. It was everybody. Other students, coaches, teachers. I think maybe Haverhill is unique like that.

This is why I love to hear that people from Haverhill have been writing into the website and following what I'm doing. I feel like I'm a representative of that town, and it feels good to know that some of them are proud of what I'm doing, because I'm proud to call that place my home.

Carlos Peña's diary appears as told to Mychael Urban, who covers the A's for MLB.com.