Pena "feels great" after abdominal surgery, plans to be ready for spring training with Tampa Bay Rays

UPDATE, 4:55: Pena said he is "recovering well" and "feels great," that he went through a full workout including hitting on Wednesday with no problems, and there is "zero percent chance" the surgery will impact him at the start of the season.

But his description made it sound like more than minor surgery, as he had two separate tears repaired because "the left side was all off the bone and right side was halfway there.''

Pena said the injury first started bothering him in August and he received a cortisone shot, and then it became an issue again in early October and he got another shot. He and team officials thought off-season rest would help, but when it still bothered him in January they sent him to see Myers and "it was a little bit worse than we thought.''

Though "heartbroken" to not participate in the Classic, Pena is confident he will be fully recovered. "I don't see any reason why I wouldn't be able to go all out in spring training except that (the Rays) will be cautious with me,'' he said.

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The  Rays just announced that 1B Carlos Pena underwent what they said was "minor surgery to repair a tear in his lower abdominal muscle" more than three weeks ago, and they say "he will be ready to go for spring training.''

As a precaution, Pena will be held out of the World Baseball Classic; he was expected to play for the Dominican Republic team.

Pena had the surgery Jan. 8, but the team did not announce it until Thursday. They said he went to Philadelphia to be checked out by Dr. William Myers and "ended up having the surgery right then.''