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.
Tonight’s Loons Game Postponed, Doubleheader Set for Tomorrow
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (10-8) and Lake County Captains (10-8) Friday night game has been postponed due to inclement weather at Classic Auto Group Park. The Loons and Captains will play a doubleheader tomorrow Saturday, April 26th. Game one will start at 5:00 p.m., with game two
Copen K’s Seven, Loons Win 3-1 Permit No Earned Runs
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – Great Lakes Loons (10-8) pitching was sensational, striking out 11 Lake County Captains (10-8) in a 3-1 win on a 72-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at Classic Auto Group Park. - Patrick Copen struck out seven Captains batters and stranded five runners. The right-hander worked around a
Captains Shutout Loons 4-0, Snap Four-Game Winning Streak
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (9-8) offense was blanked for the first time this year ending a season-best four-game winning streak, a 4-0 loss to the Lake County Captains (10-7) on a 71-degree partly cloudy Wednesday night at Classic Auto Group Park. - Lake County scored three runs
Thompson Hits Grand Slam, Fox Strikes Out Seven in Loons 9-3 Win
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (9-7) offense hit two home runs, and the pitchers struck out 14 Lake County Captains (9-7) in a 9-3 series opener win on a 54-degree partly cloudy Tuesday night at Classic Auto Group Park. - The Loons offense provided two four-run innings. In
Loons Win Series; Hope, Myers and Wagner Each Drive in Two
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (8-7) produced eight runs on eight hits, taking their third straight game over the Dayton Dragons (5-10), an 8-4 win on a 49-degree sunny Easter Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - The Loons continued their first-inning dominance this year, with a three-run frame.
Loons Hang On for 5-4 Win over Dragons, Now .500
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (7-7) had two more hits, one less error, and one more run than the Dayton Dragons (5-9), a 5-4 win on a 52-degree cloudy Saturday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Payton Martin made it through 5.1 innings, his second-longest pro-outing, earning the win.
Loons Homer Four Times, Hope Hammers Two in 7-2 Win
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (6-7) notched four home runs, two from Dodgers No. 6 prospect Zyhir Hope in a 7-2 win over the Dayton Dragons (5-8) on a 69-degree cloudy Friday night at Dow Diamond. The game was delayed for 50 minutes due to rain entering the
Dayton and Great Lakes Combine for 29 Strikeouts and 22 Walks, Dragons Win 9-2
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (5-7) pitching struck out 15 batters but walked 12, five in the final three innings in a 9-2 loss to the Dayton Dragons (5-7) on a 65-degree overcast Thursday night at Dow Diamond. - Jackson Nicklaus notched his first Loons hit and first two
De Paula’s Grand Slam Elevates Loons Over Dragons
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (5-6) answered a Dayton Dragons (4-7) four-run top of the eighth with a seven-run bottom of the eighth highlighted by a Josue De Paula grand slam. The Loons won 10-5 on a 53-degree sunny Wednesday night at Dow Diamond. - Both starters allowed
Dragons Dominate 10-2, Hope Has Fifth Multi-Hit Game
MIDLAND, Mich. – A Dayton Dragons (4-6) seven-run fourth inning catapulted them to a 10-2 win over the Great Lakes Loons (4-6) on a cloudy 42-degree windy and cloudy Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. - The Loons tallied the game’s first run. Nelson Quiroz rifled an RBI double to the
George Homers Twice, Hope Has Four Hits in Loons 12-11 Loss in Extras to Lansing
LANSING, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (4-5) delivered 11 runs off 14 hits but it was not enough to best the Lansing Lugnuts (4-5) in a 12-11 loss on a cloudy 54-degree Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. - Kendall George homered twice. The Dodgers No. 15 prospect went yard
Loons Seven Run Seventh Earns 12-6 Win in Marathon Matinee
LANSING, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (4-4) were held to three runs through the first six innings but would stamp seven in the seventh and take down the Lansing Lugnuts (3-5) 12-6 on a sunny 52-degree Saturday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. - In the top of the seventh, Great
Lugnuts Comeback Winners 4-3, Hope Homers for Loons
LANSING, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (3-4) got five scoreless innings from Brooks Auger and a Zyhir Hope homer but could not hold on, dropping the contest 4-3 to the Lansing Lugnuts (3-4) on a partly cloudy 51-degree Friday night at Jackson® Field™. - Brooks Auger went 5.2 innings
Loons Strikeout 13 Lugnuts, Hang On 3-2
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (3-3) struck out 13 Lansing Lugnuts (2-4) batters, and Joe Vetrano added a two-run double in a 3-2 Loons win on a chilly and cloud 39-degree Thursday evening at Jackson® Field™. - Great Lakes pitchers punched out 13 but also walked nine. Not one
Lugnuts Top Loons 8-2 in Rain-Shortened Contest
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (2-3) pitchers walked six Lansing Lugnuts (2-3) batters in five innings and the defense committed three errors while battling a rain mist that turned heavier and led to a game called after five innings with the score 8-2 Lansing on a cold and rainy
MBF Announces 2025 Grant Recipients
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Michigan Baseball Foundation (MBF) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 grant cycle, totaling $56,165. These grants will support a diverse range of projects aimed at enhancing communities across the Great Lakes Bay Region. This year, MBF selected organizations across seven counties, reflecting its
Loons Knock 15 Hits, Win 10-5 in Road Opener over Lugnuts
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (2-2) scored 10 runs on 15 hits and stranded 14 Lansing Lugnuts (1-3) runners on base to take a 10-5 win on a chilly 35-degree Tuesday night at Jackson® Field™. - Zyhir Hope and Logan Wagner each drove in three runs. After the
Captains Crush Loons 13-2, De Paula Homers for Great Lakes
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (1-2) pitchers walked 12 Lake County Captains (2-1) and allowed four home runs in a 13-2 loss on a chilly and sunny 42-degree Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Payton Martin tied a career-high in strikeouts with six across four innings. The right-hander finished
Hope Homers & Auger Earns Win in Pro Debut
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (1-1) earned their first win of 2025, behind two home runs and dominant pitching which took down the Lake County Captains (1-1) 6-1 on a brisk 47-degree Saturday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Brooks Auger made his first pro ball appearance and completed
Copen Returns and K’s Nine, Loons Pitching Walks 11 in 8-1 Loss to Captains
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (0-1) opened their 2025 season with a run in the first inning but were held off the board the rest of the way against the Lake County Captains (1-0). The Loons lost 8-1 on a chilly 45-degree Friday night at Dow Diamond. -
Dodgers Unveil Loons 2025 Opening Day Roster
MIDLAND, Mich. – In conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Great Lakes Loons are pleased to announce the team’s opening day roster for the 2025 season. The Opening Day roster will be finalized prior to Friday’s home opener, when the Loons host the Lake County Captains (High-A Affiliate Cleveland
WNEM to Broadcast 15 Loons Games in 2025
MIDLAND, Mich. – In partnership with Gray Media-owned WNEM-TV (CBS), the Great Lakes Loons have entered into a broadcast agreement that will air 15 games during the 2025 season on WNEM TV-5 and WNEM+. The first games to air will be the Loons Opening Weekend series April 4-6 against the
Dodgers Announce Full 2025 Loons Coaching Staff
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers, are excited to announce the team’s 2025 coaching staff. Second-year Loons’ manager Jair Fernandez will be joined by pitching coaches Sean Coyne and Eduardo Dominguez, hitting coach Kevin LaChance, and bench coach Joe Thon. Sean Coyne,
Great Lakes Loons Announce 2025 Promotional Schedule: Bigger, Better, Packed with Fan-Favorites, New Surprises!
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons are excited to announce the 2025 Promotion Schedule that includes an incredible lineup of promotions, theme nights, and special appearances. Fans flocking to Dow Diamond can look forward to unforgettable moments all season long. Highlights for the 2025 Promotional Schedule include: Star Wars
Jair Fernandez Returns as Loons Manager for 2025 Season
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons in conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers have named Jair Fernandez as their manager for the 2025 season. Fernandez will manage Great Lakes for the second straight season. Jair Fernandez is the 11th manager in the Loons' 18-year history and the fourth to