Astros pitcher, Hunter Brown, put it best when he said, “Feels like he’s hitting .800.” With a .326 average and a blazing .873 OPS, this shortstop has been turning heads since spring. And now he has finally decided to make a move that would likely change his career.
Well, we are talking about Jeremy Pena, the Houston Astros’ shortstop, who has become the talk of the town with this latest move by hiring none other than Scott Boras, the best baseball agent and deal-maker in the business.
Pena has been on fire since April. His form is one of the reasons why the Astros are five games ahead in the AL West at the moment. But recruiting someone like Scott Boras? Has he got that right?
Oct 18, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) and shortstop Jeremy Pena (3) celebrate the Astros victory over the Texas Rangers during game three of the ALCS for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Well, we all know Boras is not just any other agent. He’s a career architect who has helped top athletes like Juan Soto and Jose Altuve get lucrative contracts. Soto’s $765M contract was landed by him only. And not just Soto, he also helped Altuve get a $125M contract extension with the Astros.
Although Pena is still under contract for $4.1 million until 2027, choosing Boras shows he’s not settling for anything easy. Now, the Astros have a clear choice: either go in early with a significant extension or wait till he hits free agency.
In the midst of this, his teammate Altuve, who also hired Boras, is surprised that “he’s not signed into a long‑term deal… He’s a guy you really want on your team for the long term.” Is this a hint to the front office? To lock Pena up before it’s too late.
Let’s not forget why Pena is vital for the Astros. Since his first season, he has been very potent defensively, and now he is an offensive powerhouse too. This season, he is second in Baseball-Reference with 4.5 WAR, behind only Aaron Judge (5.6).
Pena’s impact on Astros’ season
Jeremy Pena has been a spark for the Astros all season. It’s not just his skills; he also has a “come-to-win” mindset that makes a huge difference. On Friday, Pena hit a leadoff home run in extra innings and later contributed a single and a walk to help the team win 3–2 against the Angels.
In June, he has had a blistering .395 batting average, as he has hit 10 home runs, and has had 11 games with more than one hit. By his own admission, he is only “trying to stick to [his] plan.” Joe Espada, the Astros manager, couldn’t be prouder.
“He gets his pitches, he just hits the ball hard and controls the strike zone….Everything he’s doing right now is just All-Star worthy,” Espada said
Well, Pena’s composure and clutch performances are raising the bar for everyone in the Astros clubhouse. It’s also setting the tone for a winning culture. Can he keep the momentum going?
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