Former Mater Dei Pitcher Pena Sues Arizona State Over Injury

A former Arizona State pitcher is seeking more than $2 million from the university, alleging he was forced to play with a shoulder injury that worsened as a result.

Antonio (Tony) Pena Jr., a two-time all-county selection from Mater Dei who pitched for the Sun Devils in the 1990 season and part of the next, argues that he lost his athletic scholarship after the injury became worse.

Pena contends his shoulder injury was misdiagnosed and that Arizona State baseball Coach Jim Brock and trainer David Grossman forced him to continue playing and practicing, aggravating the injury.

Pena left Arizona State in the spring of 1991 and played football at Rancho Santiago last fall. He has accepted a football scholarship from Oklahoma, where he plans to play tight end this fall.

An Arizona State attorney, Paul Ward, said the university would have no comment until the suit had been reviewed. It was filed last week in Maricopa County Superior Court but wasn’t made public until this week.

Pena seeks $1 million for loss of future earnings, $1 million for pain and suffering, $2,400 for medical costs, and an unspecified amount for legal and other costs.