Jeremy Peña Bio
Jeremy Joan Peña, born on September 22, 1997, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is a Dominican 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 a brief but impactful career, Jeremy Peña has already secured significant accolades, including being named the Most Valuable Player of the World Series and the American League Championship Series, making him a prominent figure in the world of baseball.
Early Life and Background
Jeremy Joan 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. His father, Gerónimo Peña, is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians from 1990 to 1996, providing a clear baseball lineage that shaped Jeremy’s path. The family settled in Providence, where Jeremy later attended Classical High School. He played baseball and also ran track and cross country, demonstrating an early commitment to athletics alongside his growing passion for the sport.
During his high school years, Jeremy Peña emerged as a promising baseball talent. In his junior year in 2014, he batted .352, and as a senior in 2015, he hit .390 with two home runs. Following his senior season, he was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 39th round of the 2015 MLB draft, but he chose not to sign, opting instead to pursue college baseball and continue his development.
Path to Baseball
After his senior year at Classical High School, Jeremy Peña enrolled at the University of Maine, where he played college baseball for the Black Bears. As a freshman in 2016, he started and played in 55 games, batting .283 with one home run, 15 runs batted in, and 11 stolen bases, earning a spot on the America East Conference All-Rookie Team. That summer, he played in the New England Collegiate Baseball League with the Plymouth Pilgrims, gaining valuable experience in a competitive wooden-bat environment.
Peña continued to develop during his sophomore year in 2017, starting 54 games and hitting .319 with six home runs and 32 runs batted in. Following the season, he played in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League with the Chatham Anglers, earning All-Star honors. In 2018, as a junior, he started 54 games and hit .308/.393/.469 with five home runs, 28 runs batted in, and ten stolen bases, earning American East Second-Team honors and positioning himself as a top prospect entering the MLB draft.
Jeremy Peña Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
The Houston Astros selected Jeremy Peña in the third round of the 2018 MLB draft, and he signed with the organization. He 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 runs batted in over 36 games, earning All-Star honors. In 2019, Peña began the year with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Class A Midwest League, where he was named an All-Star, before being promoted to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League in June. Over 109 games between the two teams, he slashed .303/.385/.440 with seven home runs, 54 runs batted in, and 20 stolen bases, followed by a stint in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Javelinas.
Peña did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 21, 2021, it was announced that he would undergo surgery on his left wrist, causing him to miss part of the season. He was activated off the injured list in late August and assigned to the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Triple-A West, where over 30 games he slashed .287/.346/.598 with ten home runs and 19 runs batted in. Upon conclusion of the 2021–22 Dominican Professional Baseball League season, he was awarded a second consecutive Gold Glove at shortstop.
Houston Astros Breakthrough (2022)
On November 19, 2021, the Astros selected Jeremy Peña’s contract and added him to their 40-man roster. Following the departure of incumbent shortstop Carlos Correa via free agency, Peña was named starting shortstop during 2022 spring training. He made his major league debut on Opening Day versus the Los Angeles Angels. On April 8, 2022, he hit his first major league home run while his parents were being interviewed during the broadcast, and 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.
Over the 2022 regular season, Jeremy Peña batted .253/.289/.426 with 132 hits, 22 home runs, 63 runs batted in, 72 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases, tying Carlos Correa for the franchise rookie record for most home runs by a shortstop. On defense, he ranked second in the American League in Defensive Wins Above Replacement at 2.4, played 134 games at shortstop, and was graded 15 defensive runs better than average. He also had the fastest sprint speed on the Astros at 29.4 feet per second.
The 2022 postseason was the defining chapter of his early career. Making his postseason debut in the American League Division Series, Peña singled to precede a game-winning home run in the first two games, then hit a home run in the top of the 18th inning off Penn Murfee to clinch an ALDS sweep. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series, hitting .353 with two home runs in the Astros’ four-game sweep of the New York Yankees. 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 and the first American League player to win both LCS and WS MVP honors in the same year.
Houston Astros Era (2023–Present)
In 2023, Jeremy Peña played in a career-high 150 games, posting career-highs with 152 hits, 81 runs scored, 32 doubles, 13 stolen bases, and 43 walks while batting .263/.324/.381 in 634 plate appearances. On defense, he ranked first in putouts, assists, and double plays turned among American League shortstops. In 2024, he batted .266/.308/.394 with 15 home runs, 70 runs batted in, and 20 stolen bases, leading MLB in infield hits with 31. On January 9, 2025, the Astros signed Peña to a $4.1 million contract, avoiding arbitration.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jeremy Peña combines strong defensive instincts at shortstop with reliable bat-to-ball skills and above-average sprint speed. He has consistently ranked among the American League leaders in Defensive Wins Above Replacement, double plays turned, and putouts, and he led the Astros in sprint speed during his rookie season. His blend of contact hitting, gap power, and defensive range makes him a well-rounded middle-infielder.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Jeremy Peña’s most memorable achievements are his 2022 postseason heroics, including an 18th-inning home run to end the longest shutout game in postseason history and his World Series MVP performance as a rookie. He became the first rookie shortstop ever to win a Gold Glove Award and the first rookie shortstop to hit a home run in the World Series. He also collected his 500th career hit on May 22, 2025, and was named to his first MLB All-Star Game in 2025.
Jeremy Peña Career Wins
Jeremy Peña’s career is highlighted by the 2022 World Series championship with the Houston Astros, where he was named World Series MVP. He was also named American League Championship Series MVP that same year, becoming the first American League player to earn both honors in the same season. In 2025, he was selected to his first MLB All-Star Game as a reserve infielder for the American League, capping a steady progression from prospect to established big-league shortstop.
MLB Highlights
In his MLB career, Jeremy Peña has been a model of consistency at the plate and a standout defender. Through the 2025 season, he has posted a .272 career batting average with 70 home runs, 265 runs batted in, and 69 stolen bases, while earning the 2022 Gold Glove Award at shortstop. His 2022 postseason remains the highlight, where he batted .353 in the ALCS and delivered key hits throughout the World Series run.
Other Awards and Performances
Beyond his major league accomplishments, Jeremy Peña was named the Houston chapter’s Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America following the 2022 season. On November 30, 2022, he was awarded the Key to the City of Providence in a 90-minute ceremony attended by Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Mayor Jorge Elorza. In the Dominican Professional Baseball League, he earned two consecutive Gold Glove awards at shortstop.
Jeremy Peña Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Jeremy Joan Peña comes from a baseball family, with his father, Gerónimo Peña, having played as an infielder in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians from 1990 to 1996. The family originally hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, before relocating to Providence, Rhode Island, when Jeremy was nine years old. Growing up around the game through his father’s career helped shape Jeremy’s early path toward professional baseball.
Personal Life
Jeremy Peña has been in a relationship with Canada women’s national soccer team player Julia Grosso since December 2024. He resides in Providence, Rhode Island, and remains closely tied to the community where he attended high school and was later honored with the Key to the City.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked new territory for Jeremy Peña, beginning with a $4.1 million contract signed on January 9 to avoid arbitration. From April 8 to April 23, he set a new career-high with a 14-game hitting streak and hit safely in 23 of 24 games. On May 14, he collected four hits against the Kansas City Royals, including a go-ahead single in the eighth inning, and on May 22, he tripled in two runs for his 500th career hit at Daikin Park versus George Kirby of the Seattle Mariners.
Peña’s progress was interrupted on June 27 when he sustained a rib fracture as a result of a hit by pitch, sending him to the 10-day injured list. On July 6, he was announced as a reserve infielder for the American League at the MLB All-Star Game, his first career selection, though he did not play due to the rib injury and missed the month of July. He was activated from the injured list on August 1 and returned to the lineup down the stretch.
In total, Jeremy Peña appeared in 125 games for the Astros in 2025 and batted .304 with 17 home runs and 62 runs batted in, reinforcing his standing as a core piece of the Houston infield. His first All-Star selection, combined with his continued defensive excellence at shortstop, signals a bright outlook as the Astros build around him for the coming seasons.