It’s been a trying season from a health standpoint for Brewers’ No. 2 prospect Luis Peña, but he hasn’t let it affect his play one bit.
The electric shortstop is now hitting .329 with a .443 OBP and 18 stolen bases in 25 games on the year after going 2-for-5 with four steals and two runs scored in High-A Wisconsin’s 10-1 win over Cedar Rapids at Neuroscience Group Field on Friday.
Peña’s third steal of the night was the 100th stolen base of his Minor League career. The fact that he reached that mark in his 165th career game should tell you all you need to know about the type of speed (70-grade) he possesses.
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Thursday marked the first time Peña was in the Timber Rattlers' lineup since June 9. The 19-year-old previously missed a month of action after collapsing in the dugout due to severe dehydration during a game in April. He had another scare on June 2 when he fell ill and had to be helped from his position. He was able to return quickly from that issue but only played in four games before missing another two weeks with a hamstring injury.
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MLB’s No. 16 overall prospect, Peña is one of several highly touted shortstops in the Brewers’ system. That group includes MLB’s No. 1 overall prospect Jesús Made, who was part of Milwaukee’s 2024 international signing class along with Peña and is currently playing for Double-A Biloxi. Brewers’ No. 4 prospect Cooper Pratt (MLB’s No. 61), meanwhile, recently reached the Majors and has taken over as the club's starting shortstop for the time being.
Although it's been a frustrating season for Peña with all of his health woes, the Brewers have to be encouraged by what they've seen from the youngster at the plate. Peña got his first taste of High-A last summer, but he batted just .168 with a .517 OPS over 109 plate appearances as one of the youngest players at that level. It's been a different story this year.