KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- When the Braves signed Tony Pena Jr. in 1999, they took a calculated risk on a Major League veteran's son whose baseball experiences consisted primarily of following his dad to work.

Eight years later, that unproven talent has evolved into a player capable of being a definite asset to many Major League clubs. But unfortunately for the Braves, all of the development that he's realized within their organization may prove to be a dividend for one of those other clubs.

With this being Pena's fifth season on Atlanta's 40-man roster, he's reached a point where he's exhausted all of his player options. In other words, if he doesn't break camp on the big-league roster, the 25-year-old shortstop will be placed on waivers and most likely claimed by another organization.

"It's nothing that I can control," Pena said. "I just have to play the game, and whatever happens, happens."

With Chris Woodward and Willy Aybar slated to begin the season as the club's utility infielders, there doesn't seem to be an available roster spot for the ever-improving Pena. And even if Woodward or Aybar were to begin the season on the disabled list, Pete Orr might be the more likely candidate to fill that utility role.

However, Orr does have options, and the Braves could instead replace either Woodward or Aybar with Pena just to give themselves a better chance to keep his services.

While playing superb defense and showing a capable bat during Grapefruit League play, Pena has at least increased his chances of remaining with the Braves. At the same time, he's also likely enhanced his value on the trade market.

Of course, if the Braves are able to trade Pena, they would at least have a chance to realize a dividend on the amount of time they've put into his development.

"You can't play any better than Tony Pena has played," manager Bobby Cox said. "He's got real good range -- excellent range. His hands are good. He hit .280 last year, didn't he?"

While the .282 batting average Pena recorded in 298 at-bats with Triple-A Richmond last year might not be an eye-popping figure, it's certainly a number that stands out for those who understand his history.

Until he signed with the Braves, Pena's only experience in organized baseball came during a 10-game stretch he played in one of Boston's Little Leagues. Other than that, his adolescent development in the game consisted primarily of the instruction he received while touring the Major Leagues with his father Tony Pena Sr., who spent 18 seasons as a big-league catcher.

This instruction was enhanced by the fact that the elder Pena had the opportunity to play with both Ozzie Smith and Omar Vizquel, two superior Gold Glovers who always found time to set examples and provide advice to the younger Pena.

When the Braves signed Pena, it was obvious that the 18-year-old had greatly benefited from the instruction provided by Smith and Vizquel. And when he hit just .214 at rookie level Danville in 2000, it was also obvious that a lack of game experience had stunted his growth as an offensive player.

"His strike zone used to be from the ground to about eight feet over his head," Braves bench coach Chino Cadahia said. "He has improved so much with his hitting, his focus and his at-bats. Again, experience will do that for you. He's not an out. He's a tough cookie at the plate, and he'll battle you all the way to the end."

While steadily working his way up the farm system from 2002-05, Pena found his batting average resting between .249 and .259. That's why last year's .282 mark at Richmond provides indication that he might finally be gaining the offensive skills to complement his tremendous defensive ability.

"Playing the game more just gave me a better idea of where the strike zone was," said Pena, who is hitting .259 after 27 at-bats in this year's Grapefruit League season.

Last week, with his father serving as the Yankees' first-base coach, Pena drilled a game-tying two-out triple off the left-field wall in the ninth inning. That has been his most impressive offensive contribution during a spring in which he's continued to dazzle with his glove.

His latest defensive gem came in the first inning of Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Astros. Seemingly out of nowhere, he went toward third base to snag a sharp Carlos Lee liner. Cox said he didn't think there was any chance that Pena would be able to make the play.

"He's been blessed with ability, plus range and a plus arm that allows him to make plays that a lot of shortstops aren't able to make," said Cadahia, who as the Braves' Minor League field coordinator had plenty of opportunities to monitor Pena's development.

"The thing about Tony is he's gotten better every year," Cadahia added. "He's never quit working. He's always been a better hitter and less careless. He used to make a lot of careless mistakes defensively. Now he doesn't make those. Experience does that for you."

Unfortunately, Pena finds himself within an organization loaded with Major League-ready middle-infield prospects. Included in that group are Yunel Escobar, Martin Prado, Brent Lillibridge and Orr. This doesn't even count 18-year-old phenom Elvis Andrus, who may be Major League-ready before this season concludes.

With this abundance of talent, the Braves can confidently pursue trades involving Pena. Their only other option might be taking the risk of losing him via the waiver wire.

"I never consider having an abundance of talent to be a problem," general manager John Schuerholz said. "It's never a problem when you have too many good players, whatever position that they play. It's usually never a problem for an organization, and it's certainly never a problem for a player."

In other words, Pena's future will be bright, even if he's forced to take his developed talents elsewhere.

"He's a hard worker, has a good makeup, and he wants to succeed," Schuerholz said. "Those are all great qualities for a young player to have."