Jeremy Peña Explained

Jeremy Peña
Team:Houston Astros
Number:3
Position:Shortstop
Birth Date:22 September 1997
Birth Place:Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:April 7
Debutyear:2022
Debutteam:Houston Astros
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:August 16, 2024
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.265
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:44
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:171
Stat4label:Stolen bases
Stat4value:37
Teams:
Awards:

Jeremy Joan Peña (born September 22, 1997) is a Dominican-American professional baseball shortstop for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He attended the University of Maine and played college baseball for the Black Bears. The Astros selected Peña in the third round of the 2018 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2022.

In 2022, Peña became the first rookie shortstop to win a Gold Glove Award and the first to hit a home run in the World Series. During the Astros' 2022 championship run, Peña was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of both the American League Championship Series (ALCS) and World Series (WS), becoming the first American League (AL) player to earn both awards in the same year. He was the youngest position player to win the World Series MVP award.

Early life and amateur career

Jeremy Peña was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, before he and his family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, when he was nine years old.[1] His father, Gerónimo, is a former infielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians from 1990 to 1996.[2] Jeremy attended Classical High School in Providence, playing baseball and running track and cross country. In 2014, his junior year, he batted .352.[3] As a senior in 2015, he hit .390 with two home runs.[4] Following his senior year, he was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 39th round of the 2015 MLB draft, but he did not sign, Instead, he enrolled with the University of Maine where he played college baseball.

As a freshman at Maine in 2016, Peña started and played in 55 games, batting .283 with one home run, 15 runs batted in (RBIs), and 11 stolen bases,[5] earning a spot on the America East Conference All-Rookie Team.[6] That summer, he played in the New England Collegiate Baseball League with the Plymouth Pilgrims. In 2017, Peña's sophomore year, he started 54 games and hit .319 with six home runs and 32 RBIs.[7] Following the season, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Chatham Anglers, earning All-Star honors.[8] [9] In 2018, as a junior, he once again started 54 games, hitting .308/.393/.469 with five home runs, 28 RBIs, and ten stolen bases, earning American East Second-Team honors.[10]

Professional career

Minor leagues

The Houston Astros selected Peña in the third round of the 2018 MLB draft.[11] [12] Peña signed with Houston and made his professional debut with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League, batting .250 with one home run and ten RBIs over 36 games, earning All-Star honors.[13] In 2019, Peña began the year with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Class A Midwest League, with whom he was named an All-Star, before being promoted to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League in June.[14] [15] [16] Over 109 games between the two teams, he slashed .303/.385/.440 with seven home runs, 54 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases.[17] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Javelinas.[18]

Peña did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] On April 21, 2021, it was announced that Peña would undergo surgery on his left wrist, causing him to miss part of the season.[20] He was activated off the injured list in late August, and was assigned to the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Triple-A West.[21] Over 30 games, he slashed .287/.346/.598 with ten home runs and 19 RBIs.[22]

Upon conclusion of the 2021–22 Dominican Professional Baseball League season, Peña was awarded a second consecutive Gold Glove at shortstop. In 30 games, he produced a .970 fielding percentage, 5.7 range factor, nine double plays turned along with five errors.[23]

Houston Astros

2022: Gold Glove Award, ALCS MVP, and World Series MVP

On November 19, 2021, the Astros selected Peña's contract and added him to their 40-man roster.[24] Following the departure of incumbent shortstop Carlos Correa via free agency, Peña was named starting shortstop during 2022 spring training.[25] [26] He made his major league debut on Opening Day versus the Los Angeles Angels.[27] On April 8, 2022, Peña hit his first major league home run while his parents were being interviewed during the broadcast.[28] On April 24, he hit his first career walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning versus the Toronto Blue Jays, helping lead the Astros to an 8–7 win.[29] On May 17, Peña hit the third of five Astros home runs in the second inning versus starter Nathan Eovaldi of the Boston Red Sox, tying the major league record for home runs hit by a team in one inning as the Astros rolled to a 13–4 victory.[30]

On June 13, 2022, Peña sustained a left thumb injury versus the Texas Rangers and was placed on the 10-day injured list.[31] The Astros activated him on June 26.[32] On July 3, Peña produced his both first career four-hit and multi-homer game, as well as his second career walk-off home run, sealing a 4–2 win over the Angels.[33] The Astros made Peña their regular number 2 hitter during the final phase of the regular season to replace an injured Michael Brantley. Going into the last regular-season series versus the Philadelphia Phillies, the Astros had produced an incredible 41–6 record with Peña batting second in the lineup.[34]

Over the 2022 regular season, Peña batted .253./289/.426 with 132 hits, 22 home runs, 63 RBIs, 72 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 22 walks, 135 strikeouts, and had the lowest walk/strikeout ratio in the majors (0.16).[35] He tied Correa for the franchise rookie record for most home runs by a shortstop. Peña also ranked second in home runs, fourth in hits, and fifth in runs scored and RBIs among major league rookies.[36] He had the fastest sprint speed on the Astros, at 29.4 feet per second.[37]

On defense, Peña ranked second in the American League (AL) in Defensive Wins Above Replacement (2.4, dWAR),[38] third in the AL in errors committed (19), and third among AL shortstops in total zone runs (8).[39] He played 134 games at shortstop, starting 132 of them. He was graded 15 defensive runs better than “average” at shortstop.[40]

Making his postseason debut in the American League Division Series (ALDS), Peña singled to precede a Yordan Álvarez game-winning home run in both of the first two games. The third game—which featured a postsesason-record 17 scoreless innings—was decided by Peña's home run in the top of the 18th inning off Penn Murfee. His first career home run on the postseason stage, it thus concluded the longest shutout game in postseason history, 1–0, and clinched an ALDS sweep for Houston.[41] Peña was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the American League Championship Series (ALCS), hitting .353 with two home runs in the Astros' four-game sweep of the New York Yankees.[42] In Game 5 of the World Series, he homered off Noah Syndergaard of the Phillies to become the first rookie shortstop to hit a home run in World Series play. The Astros won the World Series in six games, and Peña became the third rookie ever to be named the World Series MVP. He also became the first American League (AL) player–and ninth overall–to win both LCS and WS MVP honors in the same year.[43] [44]

2023

On July 29, 2023, Peña doubled among two hits and collected a career-best four RBI to lead an Astros' season-high scoring output in a 17–4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.[45] Peña's five hits on August 27 established a career-high, greatly contributing to a 17–4 win over the Detroit Tigers, including a franchise record-tying 25 hits.[46] In the 2023 regular season, Peña played in a career-high 150 games, and also had career-highs with 152 hits, 81 runs scored, 32 doubles, 13 stolen bases, and 43 walks. He batted .263/.324/.381 in 634 plate appearances. On defense, he ranked second among AL shortstops with 150 games played, ranked first in putouts (200), assists (362), and double plays turned (89), and third in errors (14).[47] Peña struggled during the Astros playoff run, batting .200 with only one run driven in 11 games.

2024

On August 2, 2024, Peña was announced as the Astros' nominee for the annual Heart & Hustle Award.[48]

Awards and honors

Although he finished fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year (ROY) rankings,[49] Peña was awarded the AL 2022 Gold Glove Award for his play at shortstop. He became the first Astros rookie to win a Gold Glove, and the first rookie ever to win a Gold Glove at shortstop in MLB history.[50]

The Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) named Peña the Astros' Rookie of the Year.[36]

On November 30, 2022, Peña was awarded the Key to the City of Providence in a 90-minute ceremony attended by officials including Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Mayor Jorge Elorza.[51]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kyle . Brad . September 4, 2019 . Like Father, Like Infielder: Astros' Jeremy Pena Follows Dad's Footsteps . March 19, 2024 . The Runner Sports.
  2. News: Like father, like son for Bandits' Peña . Steve . Batterson . The Quad-City Times . September 25, 2019 . September 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925231245/https://qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/midwest-league/like-father-like-son-for-bandits-pena/article_fa287dc3-ff33-521d-874f-2e531b847ce6.html. live.
  3. Web site: At Classical (R.I.), Pena attracting a crowd. May 15, 2015. ESPN.com. September 25, 2019. September 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925231244/https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/37232/at-classical-r-i-pena-attracting-a-growing-crowd. live.
  4. Web site: Jeremy Pena – Baseball. University of Maine Athletics. June 13, 2020. June 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200613214443/https://goblackbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/jeremy-pena/3978. live.
  5. News: UMaine baseball coach confident of turnaround after another losing season. Larry. Mahoney . May 31, 2016 . Bangor Daily News . May 2, 2021 . May 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210502210158/https://bangordailynews.com/2016/05/31/sports/baseball/umaine-baseball-coach-confident-of-turnaround-after-another-losing-season/. live.
  6. Web site: Coach: UMaine baseball team should be noticeably improved. Larry. Mahoney. February 16, 2017. Bangor Daily News. May 2, 2021. May 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502210201/https://bangordailynews.com/2017/02/16/sports/baseball/coach-umaine-baseball-team-should-be-noticeably-improved/. live.
  7. Web site: Slick-fielding UMaine shortstop may be following his dad to the big leagues. Larry. Mahoney. April 5, 2018. Bangor Daily News. May 2, 2021. May 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502210156/https://bangordailynews.com/2018/04/05/sports/baseball/slick-fielding-umaine-shortstop-may-be-following-his-dad-to-the-big-leagues/. live.
  8. Web site: #14 Jeremy Pena - Profile . pointstreak.com . January 28, 2022.
  9. Web site: Cape League All-Stars Set To Shine On Saturday. Cape Cod Chronicle. July 19, 2017 . June 13, 2020. September 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925231252/https://capecodchronicle.com/en/5229/sports/1860/Cape-League-All-Stars-Set-To-Shine-On-Saturday-Cape-Cod-Baseball-League-Sports.htm. live.
  10. News: Iris Ramirez . Houston Astros: Introducing Jeremy Peña – Overtime Heroics . Overtime Heroics . Overtimeheroics.net . April 22, 2020 . April 8, 2022.
  11. Web site: Providence's Jeremy Pena drafted by Astros. Sports. staff. providencejournal.com. September 25, 2019. September 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925231246/https://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20180605/providences-jeremy-pena-drafted-by-astros. live.
  12. Web site: Sports Digest: Two UMaine players selected in 2018 MLB amateur draft. June 5, 2018. September 25, 2019. September 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925231245/https://www.pressherald.com/2018/06/05/umaine-ss-jeremy-pena-selected-by-astros-in-third-round/. live.
  13. Web site: 2018 NYPL All-Stars Announced. June 13, 2020. MiLB.com. en. June 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200613214441/https://www.milb.com/news/2018-nypl-all-stars-announced-289152042. live.
  14. Web site: Pena Selected For MWL All Star Game. Dale. Duff. 92.9 The Ticket. June 14, 2019 . September 25, 2019. September 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925231242/https://929theticket.com/pena-selected-for-mwl-all-star-game/. live.
  15. Web site: Ex-UMaine shortstop climbing minor league ladder. Larry. Mahoney. July 15, 2019. Bangor Daily News. May 2, 2021. May 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502210155/https://bangordailynews.com/2019/07/15/sports/baseball/ex-umaine-shortstop-climbing-minor-league-ladder/. live.
  16. Web site: Former UMaine short stop Pena promoted to Class A-Advanced league. Eric. Gullickson. www.wabi.tv. June 29, 2019 . September 25, 2019. September 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925231245/https://www.wabi.tv/content/sports/Former-UMaine-short-stop-Pena-promoted-to-class-A-advanced-league-511984942.html. live.
  17. Web site: Skeeters spotlight: Jeremy Pena . August 30, 2021 . September 1, 2021 . September 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210901025200/https://www.fortbendstar.com/sports/skeeters-spotlight-jeremy-pena/article_1f3b89f4-09c1-11ec-a552-6b7c566073e2.html . live .
  18. Web site: Jeremy Pena and Jojanse Torres Selected to Join Arizona Fall League. August 28, 2019. OurSports Central. September 25, 2019. September 25, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190925231249/https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/jeremy-pena-and-jojanse-torres-selected-to-join-arizona-fall-league/n-5546117. live.
  19. Web site: Jeff Todd . 2020 Minor League Season Canceled . MLB Trade Rumors . June 30, 2020 . May 2, 2021 . April 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427204406/https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html . live .
  20. Web site: West Notes: Solano, Crawford, Rendon, Fiers, Pena . MLB Trade Rumors . April 21, 2021. May 2, 2021 . April 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427204054/https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/west-notes-solano-crawford-rendon-fiers-pena.html . live .
  21. Web site: Danielle Lerner . Astros shortstop prospect Jeremy Peña assigned to Class AAA Sugar Land . Houstonchronicle.com . August 28, 2021 . December 9, 2021 . September 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210901025130/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Astros-prospect-Jeremy-Pena-AAA-Sugar-Land-16418792.php . live .
  22. News: Thomas Lott, LMTonline.com / Laredo Morning Times . It's Jeremy Pena's time in Houston . Laredo Morning Times . Lmtonline.com . November 9, 2021 . December 9, 2021 . December 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211204150537/https://www.lmtonline.com/sports/article/It-s-Jeremy-Pena-s-time-in-Houston-16606023.php . live .
  23. News: Van Doren . Kenny . Astros prospect Jeremy Peña wins Gold Glove in LIDOM . Climbing Tal's Hill . December 29, 2021 . September 6, 2022.
  24. News: Rome . Chandler . Astros add prospect Jeremy Peña, others to 40-man roster ahead of Rule 5 deadline . . November 19, 2021 . December 9, 2021 . November 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211126084041/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Astros-Jeremy-Pena-40-man-roster-Rule-5-deadline-16636073.php . live .
  25. News: Rome . Chandler . With Carlos Correa in flux, Jeremy Peña is favorite to be Astros shortstop . Houston Chronicle . March 16, 2022 . April 8, 2022.
  26. Kaplan . Jake . If not Carlos Correa, then who? On Jeremy Peña, the depth options and the state of the Astros at shortstop . . March 17, 2022 . April 8, 2022.
  27. News: Astros rookie Jeremy Peña: Everything you need to know about the new guy . Houston Chronicle . April 7, 2022 . April 7, 2022.
  28. News: Peña's first homer interrupts parents' interview . .
  29. News: Peña's 2-run homer in 10th leads Astros over Blue Jays 8–7 . . . April 24, 2022 . May 29, 2022.
  30. News: Rome . Chandler . Boston bash: Astros' record-tying inning fuels rout of Red Sox . Houston Chronicle . May 18, 2022 . May 18, 2022 .
  31. Williams . Madison . Jeremy Pena won't swing back for at least a week, Dusty Baker says . . June 15, 2022 . June 18, 2022.
  32. Yankees' Judge walks off Astros for 2nd time in 4 days . ESPN.com . Associated Press . June 26, 2022 . June 27, 2022.
  33. News: Peña walks it off with 2nd HR after Valdez, Astros fan 20 . McTaggart . Brian . MLB.com . July 3, 2022 . July 3, 2022.
  34. News: Peña homers, drives in 3 to lead Astros over Rays 3–1 . ESPN.com . Associated Press . October 2, 2022 . October 2, 2022.
  35. Web site: Splits leaderboards . FanGraphs . October 14, 2022.
  36. News: McTaggart . Brian . Alvarez named Astros MVP by Houston BBWAA: Verlander named team Pitcher of the Year; Peña, Maldonado also honored . MLB.com . October 8, 2022 . October 9, 2022.
  37. Web site: Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard. baseballsavant.com.
  38. Web site: 2022 American League batting leaders . Baseball-Reference.com . October 10, 2022.
  39. Web site: 2022 American League fielding leaders . Baseball-Reference.com . October 10, 2022.
  40. Web site: Oops! All Astros: Jeremy Peña . The Crawfish Boxes . November 23, 2022 .
  41. News: Peña's 18th-inning HR sends Astros past Mariners for sweep . ESPN.com . Associated Press . October 15, 2022 . October 15, 2022.
  42. News: Peña powers Astros, named ALCS MVP . Daniel . Kramer . MLB.com . October 23, 2022 . October 24, 2022.
  43. Web site: Astros' Jeremy Peña named World Series MVP, third rookie to win postseason honor . November 6, 2022 . www.cbssports.com.
  44. News: Castrovince . Anthony . Super shortstop Peña makes history as World Series MVP . MLB.com . November 6, 2022 . November 9, 2022.
  45. News: Peña has career-high 4 RBIs as Astros score season high in 17–4 rout of Rays . ESPN.com . Associated Press . July 29, 2023 . August 2, 2023.
  46. News: Kawahara . Matt . Astros 17, Tigers 4: Houston ties franchise record with 25 hits in rout of Detroit . Houston Chronicle . August 27, 2023 . August 27, 2023.
  47. Web site: Jeremy Peña stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more . Baseball-Reference.com . October 9, 2023.
  48. News: Paredes Hernández . Perla . Jeremy Peña named Houston Astros' winner of Heart and Hustle Award from MLB alumni . Houston Chronicle . August 2, 2024 . August 18, 2024.
  49. Web site: Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena gets last laugh . November 15, 2022 .
  50. Web site: Tucker, Peña named first-time Gold Glove winners. MLB.com.
  51. News: Parshy . R. Nikhil . World Series MVP Jeremy Pena awarded hometown Providence's highest civilian honor . December 30, 2022 . Sportskeeda . November 30, 2022.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jeremy Peña".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.