Carlos' Corner: 'I am an Oakland A'
Rookie first baseman makes Opening Day roster
By Carlos Pena / Special to MLB.com

Carlos Peña, a 23-year-old rookie, was acquired by Oakland during the
offseason 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.

Peña started at first base in the finale of the Bay Bridge Series on
Saturday, and after the game, he found out he would officially be a
Major Leaguer on Opening Day.

OAKLAND -- Today I found out I made the A's opening day roster. I am
excited that they've given me the opportunity to be on this ballclub.

The A's have confidence in me and have seen something in me.

Most importantly, I have confidence in myself as well, and I can't
wait to go out there and contribute.

But for me this season, the biggest challenge will be to be myself.

The funniest part of today, and learning about making the team is how
it came about. It was crazy.

So I'm in the shower after the game, and (A's bench coach) Ken Macha
comes in and says "Carlos, I want to see you."

Now, I know the rosters are going to be announced today, and I'm
thinking, "Why?" So I start thinking that I may be getting sent down.

I'm still in the shower, and I start trying to decide what I'm going
to say to them when they tell me they're going to send me down.

I took my time in there, because I wanted to stay with the big league
club as long as possible.

But then I said to myself, "Let's get over those fears, let's go."

So I went in to the office to meet with Macha, and he looks me in the
eye very seriously and says, "Carlos, let's talk about run-down
situations."

What a relief, at least I knew that I wasn't being cut right then.
But I still didn't know I had made the team until I came out of the
meeting and some reporters told me.

I don't know if they were messing with me on purpose, but I'm just
excited.

I am an Oakland A.

Now I'm going to go call my parents, tell them I made it and then go
and have a big meal with my teammates at the Cheesecake Factory.

That'll be my celebration.

Carlos' Corner was told to Kent Schacht, who is the editorial producer for

OaklandAthletics.com. This story was not subject to the approval of

Major League Baseball or its clubs.