Brad Penny signs minor league contract with Miami Marlins

It has been a considerable amount of time since long-time Major League right-hander Brad Penny pitched professionally, but on Tuesday, he reportedly landed with an extremely familiar organization. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports that Penny has inked a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.

The 36-year-old Penny actually made a cameo appearance in Spring Training with the Kansas City Royals, but was mostly off the radar until a recent workout netted him significant interest and the realistic premise that he would soon sign a deal. Penny was last seen in the Major Leagues as a member of the San Francisco Giants back in 2012, but he was wholly ineffective (6.11 ERA) over 28 innings in 22 appearances, and you would have to travel back to 2007 with the Los Angeles Dodgers to find what could be termed as a productive full campaign in the big leagues.

Still, Brad Penny showed the ability to pitch effectively for a long period of time in the Majors, and with recent reports having him clocked in the mid-90’s with his fastball, perhaps he can ascend within the Marlins organization. It helps that Miami should be quite familiar with Penny, having employed him from 2000 to 2004, and this is shaping up as a fantastic comeback story.

Brad Penny may never reach the Major Leagues again, but it is always a pleasure to watch a former big leaguer battle to get back to that point after a long absence, and we wish him well.