Brad Penny, journeyman Major League Baseball pitcher, has reportedly gotten engaged to Dancing With the Stars star Karina Smirnoff.
Penny reportedly proposed to Smirnoff in October, and the pair have been engaged since October 4, but the engagement was publicly announced yesterday.
Penny is perhaps best known for his performance in the 2003 World Series, in which his team, the Florida Marlins, beat the New York Yankees, and Penny pitched two fine starts, winning both and putting up a 2.19 ERA.
Since then, his career has been spotty and erratic. He spent five injury-riddled years as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2009, the Red Sox took a flier on the oft-injured pitcher, only to have the investment go south. Penny was terrible as a Red Sox starter, going 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA. He was eventually bounced from the Sox rotation due to ineffectiveness. In 2010, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Again, he was a bust, throwing only 55.2 innings and battling injuries. Penny is again a free agent. He seeks employment at present.
Smirnoff was most recently eliminated from Dancing With the Stars as the partner of Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, of Jersey Shore fame.