Hunter Pence News

"A year ago, Hunter Pence made it look easy as a rookie. He didn't bite at so many sliders in the dirt, but now he realizes he must stop swinging at those pitches. He also must find a way to regain the confidence he carried last season. "I'm a real big advocate of mental toughness and believing in yourself," Pence said. "And I let a little doubt creep into my mind. I've got to get rid of that. I came (to hit Thursday) and kind of know what I've got to do."

"Even in batting practice, he doesn't try to dial down the energy. The eagerness. The exuberance of being a grown man who plays a boy's game and gets paid for it. Hunter Pence steps into the batting cage hundreds of times a year. He is 25, and if he's really lucky, he'll never let life or losing or anything else change him in any fundamental way. He'll never develop an air of nonchalance about the process."

"For Hunter Pence, his game-winning grand slam Tuesday night will carry a special meaning long after he retires from baseball. Earlier that day, his niece, Hayley Pence, was born in California. Pence had been on baby watch since the club was in Los Angeles two weeks ago, and he even called his older brother, Howard, a few hours before Tuesday's game to check if the baby had been born. "At 4:30 (p.m.), I was calling and calling, and still no baby," he said. "But then I had a message saying, 'Hit one for the new HP in the family.' " Pence came through later that night after his sister in-law Allison had delivered."

"Someday soon, maybe next month or next season, we're going to find out Hunter Pence isn't real. Is there any other explanation? No one can be this good this soon. No one can be this perfect. If your classroom assignment was to design the perfect young baseball player, he might be what you'd come up with. He has power and speed and smarts. He has energy, passion and a relentless work ethic. He's one of those people absolutely determined to be great."

"As Hunter Pence's shot soared toward right field Tuesday night, the crowd quickly made it clear who held the note on Minute Maid Park. This ballpark, just in case Chicago Cubs fans forgot, belongs to the Astros and their fans. With a deafening roar, most of the folks jumped out of their seats as Pence's grand slam cleared the wall in right to provide the Astros a 4-2 victory over the Cubs."