Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could be the next big thing to come from the farm system that just saw Jackson Chourio star in the big leagues as a 20-year-old.
But the evaluators who visited Milwaukee’s complex in the Dominican Republic last summer say don’t sleep on 18-year-old Luis Peña, who quietly sits at No. 10 on the Brewers’ Top 30. Peña signed in the same January 2024 international class as Made, also plays shortstop and might be just as talented -- perhaps more talented, said two Brewers evaluators. And he hasn’t generated a fraction of the hype.
Luis Pena hit the only HR of the DSL All-Star Game this weekend 💣🇩🇴
— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) July 22, 2024
The 104-mph EV is his hardest hit of the year
Pena ranks top 5 in the DSL in OBP (.496), and leads the league in SBs (33)#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/Ii7R0tgTIk
For Brewers senior special assistant Carlos Villanueva, that’s as it should be.
”I do believe that the right guy is getting the attention just because he can handle it better,” said Villanueva, the former Brewers right-hander who has worked in player development since 2018. “Made is incredibly mature for his age. His dad played some ball [in the U.S. Minor Leagues], so he’s been conditioned a little bit more about what pro ball could look like. Peña is learning at his own pace.
“Having Peña feel a little bit of that competitive juice is going to mean that they push each other. That’s why I think we’re going to do our best to keep them together so they can feed off each other. Peña probably needs that, like, ‘Hey, I want to show you guys.’”
The Brewers have been scouting Peña since he was 14 and learned that about his personality early on, said director of Latin American evaluation Luis Pérez. Villanueva, meanwhile, remembers other instances of prospects playing together and pushing each other through the Minor Leagues, from Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy and Corey Hart, to the pitching trio of Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta.
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Those friendly rivalries fueled success. Now, it’s Made and Peña. If all goes right, they will begin the season at Class A Carolina with a chance to move fast, just like Chourio did.
“Since we were kids, we’ve been together,” said Peña, with Arizona Rookie League manager Rafael Neda translating from Spanish. “He’s been a good friend, a good pal, and we’re pushing each other. We’re on the same boat. We’re preparing, pushing each other to make it.”
Who does he think will make it first?
“For me, it’s both,” Peña said, choosing diplomacy and a smile.
Villanueva has been in the dugout for Cactus League games and resists the urge to answer when a coach asks about one of the many top Latin American prospects who have helped cover the late innings. Made, Peña, Yophery Rodriguez (Brewers No. 7), Luis Lara (No. 21), Jadher Areinamo (No. 24), Juan Baez (No. 27) and Eduardo Garcia (unranked) all have taken at-bats in Major League games during their buildup to the Spring Breakout.
Villanueva would rather his colleagues discover the players’ skills for themselves.
“Even Murph the other day,” said Villanueva, referring to Brewers manager Pat Murphy, “he’s seen both [Made and Peña] play shortstop and he’s like, ‘That Peña kid, he seems like a shortstop.’ Then I think he hit into a double play and he just flew down the line and everybody is looking at their watches going, ‘Did anybody get that time?’
“It makes me very excited when guys are asking about them, because I get the privilege of being in the D.R. and seeing them all summer. I’ve seen it.”
Peña won last season’s Dominican Summer League batting title with a .393 average while stealing 39 bases and walking as many times as he struck out (15) in 184 plate appearances. He’s a big part of the reason Villanueva believes that the January 2024 class will prove special. Three of those players -- Made, Peña and outfielder José Anderson -- were on the Spring Breakout roster. Anderson (Brewers No. 28) flashed his power by hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
“It’s the most advanced class we’ve had,” Villanueva said. “They’re all toolsy, but it’s having tools plus being good at some of the other advanced things we measure. When you can control the zone at that age, it’s very different. It usually takes years to teach guys to do this.”
It sounds like the way player development officials talked about Chourio. He played in last year’s Spring Breakout, and look where he ended up.
“What that has done is it has opened the eyes of everybody else,” said Brewers roving coach Mike Guerrero. “I’ve been with the Brewers so long that I remember when everybody was talking about Robin [Yount] getting to the big leagues at 18 years of age, and Paul Molitor going to the big leagues from A-ball. That was preached to us in 1986 when we got to Spring Training: The door is open if you have talent and can change the game.
“What Chourio did has changed the way we think again. You don’t have to spend six years in the Minor Leagues to make an impact in the big leagues. If you have the talent, you can do it.”
Supervising Club Reporter Adam McCalvy has covered the Brewers for MLB.com since 2001.
2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved
Minor League Baseball has announced that the 2020 Minor League Baseball season has been shelved, due to the impacts of COVID-19, therefore, Major League Baseball will not be sending players to Minor League affiliates this summer. As a result, there will not be a 2020 Minor League Baseball season, including
2020 Season Update
We hope everyone and their loved ones are doing well and staying safe during the current pandemic. Due to the COVID-19 precautions, the Governor’s guidelines for reopening, and the fact that MLB has not yet announced when or under what conditions it will supply minor league players to our club,
Staten Island Yankees Announce Partnership with “Feeding Our Frontline” Campaign
STATEN ISLAND - The Staten Island Yankees and the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation are pleased to announce they have partnered with Staten Island Borough President James S. Oddo, the Federation of Teachers, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce's "Feeding Our Frontline" Campaign. Most recently, they have donated $5,000
Staten Island Yankees Announce 2020 Coaching Staff
STATEN ISLAND - The Staten Island Yankees are excited to announce that Dan Fiorito has been named Manager for the 2020 season. Fiorito will be joined by newcomers to the coaching staff, Dustin Glant and Ryan Chipka, and some familiar faces, Teuris Olivares, Jon Becker, and Danny Smith. Ryan Shute
Staten Island Yankees Praise Congressional Effort to Save Minor League Baseball
(Staten Island, NY) - The Staten Island Yankees today praised the newly created Save Minor League Baseball Task Force that has been organized by members of Congress to prevent Major League Baseball (MLB) from eliminating 42 minor league franchises, nearly one quarter of all minor league teams around the country."We
Staten Island Yankees Announce Free Shirt Fridays & Fireworks Shows for 2020
STATEN ISLAND - New for the 2020 season, the Staten Island Yankees are giving away free t-shirts every Friday game at Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George. Fans will have the opportunity to receive one of five unique t-shirts for every Friday night game they attend. It all starts
STATEN ISLAND YANKEES ANNOUNCE 2020 SCHEDULE
STATEN ISLAND - The Staten Island Yankees are excited to announce the team's schedule for 2020 with game times. The season begins on the road, against the defending New York-Penn League Champion Brooklyn Cyclones, on June 18th. The SI Yanks come home to Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George
Staten Island Falls To Brooklyn, Ending Playoff Hopes
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees fell to the Brooklyn Cyclones 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George.Brooklyn opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single by Luke Ritter, but the Yankees answered with a two-run RBI single by Andres Chaparro to
Staten Island Outlasts Hudson Valley To Win Vital Rubber Game
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees defeated the Hudson Valley Renegades 2-0 to win the rubber game of this three-game series at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Friday night.The Yankees and Renegades were involved in another tight game on Friday with the pitchers taking center stage early on in the
Staten Island's Late Comeback Falls Short As Hudson Valley Holds On To Win 6-5
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees fell 6-5 to the Hudson Valley Renegades on Thursday night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.Hudson Valley got off to a good start scoring three runs in the first inning, two of which scored on an error by Andres Chaparro. The Renegades added another run
Staten Island Comes Back To Beat Hudson Valley In Series Opener
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees defeated the Hudson Valley Renegades 3-2 to win the first game of three game series at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Wednesday night.Hudson Valley took the lead with runs in the third and fourth inning behind a sacrifice fly and an RBI from Greg
Pizza Rats Win Pitcher's Duel Over Aberdeen To Take Final Game Of Series
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Pizza Rats, in their final game with the name this season, defeated the Aberdeen Ironbirds 1-0 in another pitcher's duel at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Saturday night.Tonight it was Blakely Brown for Staten Island and Houston Roth for Aberdeen who starred on the rubber.
Aberdeen Edges Staten Island In Friday Night Pitcher's Duel
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees dropped the second game of a three-game set 1-0 in a Friday night pitcher's duel at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.Staten Island's Nelvin Correa and Aberdeen's Jake Lyons matched each other pitch for pitch and both put up five scoreless innings in what turned into
Staten Island Yankees Announce 2019 Pride Night Promotion
STATEN ISLAND - Pride Night returns to Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Friday, August 30th as the Staten Island Yankees host the Hudson Valley Renegades at 7:00 p.m. Gates to the ballpark open at 6:00 p.m.The promotion will feature a game-worn jersey auction as the Staten Island Yankees will wear
Staten Island falls to Aberdeen in rain shortened game 4-1
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees fell 4-1 in game one a three-game series with the Aberdeen Ironbirds in a rain shortened affair on Thursday night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.The Yankees took the lead in the first inning on a home run by Ezequiel Duran, but the Ironbirds responded
Team Oddo defeats Team Rose to win fun and entertaining New York-Penn League All-Star Game
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees were the hosts of the 2019 New York-Penn League All-Star Game and it did not disappoint at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Wednesday night.Team Oddo defeated Team Rose 7-3 on a fun and entertaining night of baseball on Staten Island with Tri-City ValleyCats catcher
Staten Island Falls To Lowell In Final Game Of Series
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees fell to the Lowell Spinners 7-6 in the final game of their three-game home stand at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Friday night.The Spinners opened the scoring in the first inning with a Joe Davis sacrifice fly RBI, but the Yankees would answer with
2019 All Star Game Rosters Announced
On August 4th Staten Island Borough President James Oddo and United States Congressman Max Rose (NY, 11th District) selected their rosters for the 2019 New York-Penn League All Star Game at Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, which will take place on Wednesday, August 21st. Team Blue was selected
Staten Island Yankees Announce All-Star Team Selection Format and Event Details
STATEN ISLAND - The New York-Penn League's 15th annual All-Star game will be played at Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George on Staten Island on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. On Sunday the teams were selected by United States Congressman Max Rose (NY, 11th District) and Staten Island Borough President
Staten Island Sweeps Doubleheader Against Lowell Behind Late Game Heroics
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees swept the doubleheader with the Lowell Spinners on Thursday afternoon at Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George.The Yankees won the opener 3-0 behind a fantastic start from Nelvin Correa who threw a complete game shutout and allowed just three hits in the victory.Isaiah
August 14th Postponed
Tonight's game (August 14) against the Lowell Spinners has been postponed due to continual storms. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader tomorrow on Thursday, August 15th, beginning at 12:00 p.m. with gates opening at 11 a.m. Tickets purchased for the Thursday, August 15th game will
Sanford's Extra Inning Walk-off Home Run Lifts Yankees Over Cyclones In Epic Game
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Cyclones 7-5 in 11 innings to win the final game of the three-game set at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Tuesday night.The Yankees opened the scoring in the first inning as they put two runs on the board with the big
Staten Island Falls To Brooklyn In Opening Game Of Series
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees fell to the Brooklyn Cyclones 11-4 on Sunday at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.It started off well for the Baby Bombers as Mitchell Robinson gave the Yankees the lead in the first inning with a two-run double. They added another on a Brooklyn error to
Staten Island's Pitching Outduels Mahoning Valley As Yanks Sweep Series
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-The Staten Island Yankees defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 1-0 at Richmond County Bank Ballpark to complete a sweep of the weekend series.It was all about the pitching on Sunday as Blakely Brown threw six shutout innings of one hit ball for the Yankees and the bullpen backed