TRACK RECORD: The son of former big leaguer Geronimo Peña, Jeremy stood out for his defense at Maine before signing with the Astros for $535,000 as a third-round pick in 2018. He had an excellent full-season debut through two levels of Class A, then followed it up in 2020 with a strong showing playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic.
SCOUTING REPORT: Peña is a plus defender at shortstop, where he has smooth actions, good instincts and range to go with an above-average arm. He signed with a lean, lively frame, and he has since bulked up around 20 pounds while retaining his athleticism and slightly above-average speed. Scouts were more skeptical of Peña’s bat as an amateur, but he has evolved from a handsy swing in college into one that better incorporates his whole body. He now better leverages his explosiveness and creates a more adjustable swing path to go with his solid bat-to-ball skills and a sound grasp for the strike zone. The added strength has helped Peña’s ability to drive the ball, but he still has below-average power, though he has a chance for more because of his contact frequency.
THE FUTURE: Some scouts view Peña as a reserve infielder, but his defense and contact skills give him a chance to develop into an everyday shortstop.
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