The Astros introduced Monday that star shortstop Jeremy Peña has been positioned on the 10-day injured listing because of a “small” fracture in considered one of his left ribs. The group has not but supplied a timetable for Peña’s anticipated return. A corresponding transfer is not going to be introduced till later within the day, the group added.
Peña was hit with a pitch within the ribs by Cubs rookie Cade Horton this previous Friday. He exited the sport, however preliminary x-rays got here again adverse. Peña was out of the lineup each Saturday and Sunday, and he was clearly nonetheless feeling discomfort, because the Astros indicated that follow-up MRI and CT scans had been carried out, which revealed the fracture.
It’s an terrible damage for the Astros. Peña is having fun with a full-fledged breakout this 12 months, delivering a efficiency that would effectively make him an American League MVP finalist. The 27-year-old shortstop is hitting .322/.378/.489 with 11 house runs, 18 doubles, a triple and 15 steals (in 17 tries) — all whereas enjoying plus protection at shortstop. FanGraphs ranks him third within the majors with 4.1 wins above substitute, tied with Shohei Ohtani and trailing solely Aaron Decide and Cal Raleigh. Baseball-Reference has Peña tied with Raleigh for second in baseball, behind solely Decide.
Peña’s breakout has partly been fueled by some luck on balls in play (.360 BABIP, up from .308 in his three prior seasons), however that’s solely a part of the story. He’s upped his stroll fee, and whereas it’s nonetheless under league common, his 5.7% mark is a notable enchancment over final 12 months’s paltry 3.8% clip. His 15.7% strikeout fee is down from final 12 months’s 17.1% mark. Peña’s batted-ball profile doesn’t essentially look all that totally different upon first look, however whereas his total common exit velocity is almost unchanged from 2024, his exit velocity on balls hit within the air. particularly, is up practically three miles per hour. Statcast’s “anticipated” metrics nonetheless really feel there’s some regression in retailer, however there are tangible adjustments to his underlying statistical profile that counsel he’s not merely going to fade again to his pedestrian offense from 2022-24.
Changing the kind of manufacturing Peña has supplied merely isn’t possible. Mauricio Dubón has stepped up at shortstop over the previous couple days and may not less than be anticipated to offer strong glovework, however he’s a profession .259/.294/.379 hitter who’s batting .239/.278/.390 in 2025. Prospect Brice Matthews, Houston’s decide at No. 28 total within the 2023 draft, is at present in Triple-A and slashing .285/.403/.492 with an enormous 15.4% stroll fee but in addition a weighty 28.5% strikeout fee.
Matthews shouldn’t be but on the 40-man roster and wouldn’t have to be added this winter to guard him from the Rule 5 draft, however his efficiency nonetheless places him within the dialog for a glance with Peña shelved. Presumably, the longer Peña is predicted to overlook, the extra critically the group would take into account Matthews an choice to step in for him. Various choices inside the group who’ve some shortstop expertise embrace Shay Whitcomb (already on the 40-man roster), Zack Quick and Greg Jones. Neither Quick nor Jones is on the 40-man, nevertheless. Whitcomb has barely performed shortstop in 2025 however does have a bit greater than 1800 profession skilled innings on the place.
