BALTIMORE -- Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña joined the club on Wednesday in Baltimore as he continues his recovery from a Grade 1 right hamstring strain that landed him on the 10-day IL on April 12.
After staying with the ‘Stros through this weekend's trip to Fenway Park, he expects a rehab assignment to follow.
“We’ve not talked about that stuff, but if I had to guess, then I’d guess that I would be getting some games in somewhere,” Peña said before Thursday’s doubleheader against the Orioles at Camden Yards.
The good news, said the 28-year-old, is he already feels comfortable in the box after taking live batting practice, including on Tuesday against injured Astros closer Josh Hader.
“I felt good at the plate. I don’t think hitting is going to be the problem,” Peña said. “I think it’s just the running. But … we’re definitely progressing in the right direction.”
Peña was slashing .256/.304/.349 in 10 games prior to his injury, but hamstring issues have plagued the 2025 All-Star intermittently since the second half of last season.
He conceded on Thursday that there are two recovery battles this time: The first is physically healing, and the second is regaining mental confidence.
“Once we get to a point where I feel great doing all the stuff, then that’s when the mind kind of trusts the body,” he said. “And you want the mind to trust the body, and know that you can just go out there and play and not really have to think about it.”
In the meantime, he’ll enjoy the energy from being around teammates and coaches that have given him “that itch to be back on the field.”
There’s also the customary family reunion that greets him when he’s in Boston, which is about an hour from where Peña spent the latter portion of his childhood in Providence, R.I.
This one will be toned down, though.
“My people are fake -- they said they’re not coming if I’m not playing,” Peña said in jest. “My family is in the Dominican Republic right now. I’m like, ‘Damn, that’s crazy.’ But my brother will be there. My older brother is my biggest supporter. He’ll be there, and my little brother will be there, too.”