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.
Dust Devils Announce 2025 Promotional Schedule
Fan Favorites and Historic Firsts Highlight 2025 Fun at Gesa Stadium PASCO, WASH. (March 21, 2025) - Affordable family fun returns to Gesa Stadium Friday, April 4th as the Tri-City Dust Devils embark on their 2025 baseball season! Make plans now to join in all the fun during 66 home
Dust Devils Announce 2025 Coaching Staff
Dann Bilardello, longtime MiLB manager, takes the reins. PASCO, WASH. (February 14, 2025) - The Tri-City Dust Devils, proud High-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, are excited to welcome the club’s coaching staff for the 2025 season. Dann Bilardello will take over the helm as manager following previous managing
Dust Devils' Michael Angel Wins Head Groundskeeper of the Year
Today, Minor League Baseball announced that Michael Angel, longtime Head Groundskeeper of the Tri-City Dust Devils, has won the 2024 Head Groundskeeper of the Year Award for the Northwest League. Michael has served in his role with the Dust Devils since 2003, making the upcoming 2025 season his 22nd consecutive
Dust Devils Unveil 2025 Season Schedule
After another record-breaking season, your Tri-City Dust Devils cannot wait to invite friends, fans, and community members back to the ballpark next spring. In anticipation, we’re thrilled to announce our 2025 Season Schedule! Mark your calendars for Opening Day on Friday, April 4th, 2025! Kicking off the new season with
Sonny D's Grand Slam Delights Dust Devil Fans in Shutout of Emeralds
1B Sonny DiChiara's 1st inning grand slam set the tone for a terrific Tuesday night at Gesa Stadium, where four Tri-City Dust Devils (19-30 2H) pitchers combined to shut out the Eugene Emeralds (21-28 2H) by a score of 5-0 in front of 1,431 fans gathered on a Senior Night
Magnificent Seven-Run First Takes Tri-City to Blowout of Spokane
Both the Tri-City Dust Devils (16-23 2H) and the Spokane Indians (26-13 2H) had identical golden opportunities to score in their first at-bats Thursday night, and the home nine cashed in their chance with seven runs on the way to a 13-2 rout of their visitors in front of 2,077
Well, Well, Well…How the Turntables: Indians Blank Dust Devils
A night after the Tri-City Dust Devils (15-23 2H) shut out the Spokane Indians (26-12 2H), the visitors returned the favor with a 7-0 win over their hosts Wednesday night at Gesa Stadium that evened the series at a game apiece. The low-scoring nature of Tuesday’s series opener carried over
Fantastic Four: Tri-City Pitchers Shut Out Spokane
Starter Jorge Marcheco and three relievers from the Tri-City Dust Devils (15-22 2H) bullpen shut out the league-leading Spokane Indians (25-12 2H) Tuesday night, backing up a pair of midgame unearned runs for a 2-0 win at Gesa Stadium that opened a six-game series. Marcheco, innings and pitch limited since
Dust Devils Clobber Canadians for Series Split
A Tri-City Dust Devils (14-22 2H) offense shut out for 13 weekend innings erupted for 14 unanswered runs Sunday afternoon, turning another low-scoring ballgame into a 15-3 rout of the Vancouver Canadians (21-15 2H) at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium that earned the squad a series split. A two-out
Tri-City Blanked in British Columbia
Three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning helped the Vancouver Canadians (21-14 2H) to a 4-0 win over the Tri-City Dust Devils (13-22 2H) Saturday night at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium, giving Vancouver a three games to two lead in the final series between the two
Bonus Baseball Better to Dust Devils in Win over Canadians
Playing their third extra-inning game in a week and second in less than 24 hours the Tri-City Dust Devils (13-21 2H) turned the tables on the Vancouver Canadians (20-14 2H) Friday afternoon, getting their runner across in the top of the 10th inning and shutting the door in the bottom
Tri-City Forces Extras, Falls to Vancouver
On an otherwise high-scoring Thursday in the Northwest League the Tri-City Dust Devils (12-21 2H) and Vancouver Canadians (20-13 2H) played a taut, low-scoring ballgame that Vancouver took 3-2 in ten innings at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium. Tri-City gave itself chances to score throughout the night, chipping away
Dust Devils Dig In, Hold On to Beat Canadians
At a place recently inhospitable to Tri-City Dust Devils (12-20 2H) victories the visitors grabbed the lead and held off another late charge from the Vancouver Canadians (19-13 2H) Wednesday night, taking a 5-4 win at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium and bringing this week’s series all square at
Vancouver Vexes Tri-City Again
Both starter Houston Harding and the bullpen offered strong performances on the mound for the Tri-City Dust Devils (11-20 2H) Tuesday night, but the Vancouver Canadians (19-12 2H) cooled off bats on a muggy night to take a 2-0 win in the series opener of a six-game start Tuesday night
Rooster Tails Speed Past AquaSox to Split Series
A stellar bullpen performance backing up early runs powered the Tri-City Dust Devils (11-19 2H) to a 4-1 win over the Everett AquaSox (13-17 2H) Sunday night at Gesa Stadium, causing a third split between the two teams in as many series in the 2024 season. Held to one hit
Columbia River Offense Stays in Pits
A Tri-City Dust Devils (10-19 2H) offense experiencing one of its best stretches of the year was shut down by the visiting Everett AquaSox (13-16 2H) Saturday night, netting only one hit in a 6-0 loss to the visitors at Gesa Stadium. Playing as the Columbia River Rooster Tails on
Werner’s Walk-Off: Rooster Tails Rally in Extras to Beat AquaSox
A tightly played game in the first nine innings gave way to a wild finish Friday night at Gesa Stadium, where Werner Blakely’s walk-off two-out double in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Tri-City Dust Devils (10-18 2H) a 5-4 win over the Everett AquaSox (12-16 2H) to
Bah, Humbug: Tri-City Builds Big Lead but Falls Short
The Tri-City Dust Devils (9-18 2H) hung six early stockings by the chimney with care on a Christmas in July Thursday night, but the Everett AquaSox (12-15 2H) filled them with lumps of coal as they sleighed past the home nine for a 9-6 win at Gesa Stadium. With both
Crazy Eighth Dooms Dust Devils
Six outs away from a third straight win the Tri-City Dust Devils (9-17 2H) had an 8th inning go sideways on them, with errors and walks assisting the Everett AquaSox (11-15 2H) to six runs on the way to a 9-4 win at Gesa Stadium that evened the teams’ six-game
First Inning Four-Spot Sends Tri-City Past Everett
Four hits in a row to start their night at the plate turned into four early runs Tuesday night for the Tri-City Dust Devils (9-16 2H), who led wire-to-wire in a 5-2 win over the Everett AquaSox (10-15 2H) that opened the week’s six-game series at Gesa Stadium. The visitors
Viñeros Vex Eugene, Take Three-Gamer
The Tri-City Dust Devils (8-16 2H) ratcheted up the offense and repelled a late charge from the Eugene Emeralds (11-13 2H) Sunday night, taking down the visitors 6-3 at Gesa Stadium to grab a series win coming out of the All-Star Break. Playing as Viñeros de Tri-City, the home nine
Emeralds Slug Way to Even Series with Dust Devils
Another big swing by the reigning Northwest League Player of the Week 3B Chad Stevens gave the Tri-City Dust Devils (7-16 2H) an early lead Saturday night, but Eugene Emeralds (11-12 2H) outfielder Rodolfo Nolasco’s two home runs pushed the visitors to a 5-3 win in front of 2,322 at
Tri-City Eviscerates Eugene in Post-Break Return
The suddenly roaring offense of the Tri-City Dust Devils (7-15 2H) returned from baseball’s All-Star break rested and still red-hot Friday night, bashing the ball around and out of the park in a 12-1 thrashing of the Eugene Emeralds (10-12 2H) in front of 2,165 gathered at Gesa Stadium. Trailing
Sweet Seventeen: Dust Devils Demolish Spokane
A dam holding back the offense of the Tri-City Dust Devils (2-13 2H) burst open Saturday evening, with the visitors setting season-highs in runs, hits and home runs in a 17-6 thrashing of the Spokane Indians (11-4 2H) at Avista Stadium. Tri-City’s onslaught began in the top of the 1st
Tri-City Dents Scoreboard, Falls to Indians
2B Will McGillis’s first home run of 2024 gave the Tri-City Dust Devils (1-13 2H) a glimmer of offensive hope Friday night, but the Spokane Indians (11-3 2H) used their patented 5th inning blitz to down the visitors by a score of 9-3 at Avista Stadium. McGillis, coming back recently