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Jeremy Pena 2025 Outlook: Boring, Balanced Production at an Affordable Price
8 mins agoJeremy Pena posted a solid 2024, slashing .266/.308/.394 with 15 homers and 20 steals across 650 PAs. Pena puts a lot of balls in play since his 3.8% BB% and 17.1% K% are well below average, and a career-best 12.2% SwStr% supported his K%. Pena's .301 BABIP looks sustainable, so an average between .260 and .270 is a reasonable projection. The 27-year-old doesn't offer any power upside because his 31.5% FB% was low and his Statcast power indicators (109.5 mph max exit velocity, 91.3 mph average airborne exit velocity, 5.4% rate of Brls/BBE) weren't good. However, Pena's 29.8 ft./sec Statcast Sprint Speed was in the 98th percentile last season, and he improved his SB success rate dramatically by going 20-for-26 (77%) after just 13-for-24 (54%) in 2023. Pena's blazing speed and increased SB know-how could easily produce more steals in 2025. Pena's role as Houston's sixth hitter doesn't offer fantasy value, but his ability to contribute a little of everything makes him a boring yet productive pick at his ADP of 173.25.
