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Astros 2025 – A Quick View of the Shortstop Position

The fan viewpoint of Astros 2024 shortstop Jeremy Pena is a bit skewed by his predecessor, Carlos Correa. Fans tend to focus on his shortcomings and what he is not. He is not the offensive firebrand that Correa was (or what he was when he wasn’t nursing injuries). But Pena has been an excellent hitter at a position that has been usually a huge weak point with this organization. Pena’s 81 runs scored in 2023 was the eighth most in a single season by an Astros SS in a season, his 32 doubles (2024) -5th best, 22 HRs (2023) T-third best, his 70 RBIs (2024) eighth best.

So, how does that position line up with the wish that Pena continues to play most of the games in 2025?

2024 By the Numbers

Here are the shortstop numbers for all those who played SS in 2024 (stats are combined):

  • .265 BA (5th in the AL)
  • .309 OBP (8th)
  • .700 OPS (7th)
  • 29 doubles (7th)
  • 15 HRs (8th)
  • 71 RBIs (T-6th)

They were in the middle of the road in 2024 for the AL. One would hope that Pena could pick it up a notch in 2025 or this may just be who he is.

On the bright side, Pena has the most blazing speed on the team, which is tied to the fact that he never seems to take a playoff on the base paths.

Pena also brought home the Gold Glove in 2023 and though inconsistent at times, still is a plus in the field.

Looking at the numbers put up by just Pena in 2024.

Stat Jeremy Pena
BA .268
OBP .308
OPS .701
Runs 78
Doubles 28
HRs 15
RBIs 70

Good numbers, but not overwhelming.

So, who else is around if the Astros have to replace Pena for a short or long period in 2024?

Major League Possibilities

Only two players showed up at shortstop for the Astros in 2024, besides Pena who started almost all the games. Swiss army knife, Mauricio Dubon started five games at SS and Grae Kessinger (recently DFA’d) started one. Again, if Dubon is the starting LF, it would take away from his ability to be the backup at all the infield positions.

New Astro, Isaac Paredes has not played very many MLB level games at SS, but in his time in the minors he played more games at SS than all the other positions combined. It is possible if he had to replace Pena for an extended period, they could bring in one of their youngsters to play 3B (though they could do the same with Dubon in LF).

Shay Whitcomb did not play any SS during his call-up last season but had played about half his games in the minors as a shortstop. Zach Dezenzo was a shortstop in college but has not played any SS in the minors or when he was called up to the Astros.

Top Prospects

The Astros top 30 prospect list contains a number of players tied to SS.

Brice Matthews (#4 prospect) has played 2B, 3B and SS in the minors and has flashed a power/speed combo as he’s risen up the ranks. One would think he needs to prove himself a bit at AAA before he would be moved up.

Chase Jaworsky (#14) as we mentioned in the 2B writeup is a ways away from the majors in both level and performance.

Cam Smith (#1) played one game at SS in college, but when you are talking about the top prospect and an opportunity, who knows what might happen.

2024 AAA – Besides Whitcomb there were a couple other prospects (suspects?) who played more than a handful of games at SS for the Space Cowboys.

  • Jesus Bastidas – Yeah, we talked about him in the 2B wrap-up. Again, he showed a good bat, but he is not a youngster at 26.
  •  Jacob Amaya – Uh, never mind him, as he was waived and picked up by the White Sox after a single MLB at bat with the Astros.

2024 AA

Looking at the Hooks….

  • Besides Brice Matthews (discussed above) and Pascanel Ferreras (discussed in the 2B writeup), the Astros gave the most SS starts to Tommy Sacco. Sacco at 25 y.o. hit OK,  .243 BA/ .335 OBP/ .711 OPS with 10 homers and 33 RBIs in 102 games. He is basically organizational depth at this time.

If things work to spec, Pena will continue as the full-time shortstop for the Astros. But as he gets more and more expensive (this is his first arb year), it is certainly possible that he could get nudged out at some time by a top prospect like Brice Matthews.

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29 responses to “Astros 2025 – A Quick View of the Shortstop Position”

  4. Not to mention he steals quite a few bases.

    His walk rate is what keeps his WAR down(and his OBPkeeps his OPS down). He is a good player and underrated in the area of being injury free.

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  6. Thanks for the kind words Daveb – it has been kind of fun getting a little more familiar with what is (and is not) in the pipeline.

    Good points, OP

    Steven – thank you again for suggesting the position by position review here in the off-season – it has gone quite well I think.

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  7. Yes, Dan, great write-ups so far. Idea mine maybe talent all you though.

    Jeremy Pena is a player very capable of taking the next step and becoming a 25-30 HR a year guy. He is also very capable of staying right where he is. Like Khalil Greene, a guy he is comparable to statistically, he is capable of falling off at a certain age if he can’t make certain adjustments to certain pitches. Who knows what direction he goes.

    I would think though if he just stays consistent the Astros will be happy with that at a few million. What happens when .265/15/70 starts costing you 12M? I don’t know. That’s a question for Dana Brown.

    Injury would have to be a concern. Dubon is probably the next man up, he is probably right behind or maybe even as good as Pena defensively, and outside of the power he is probably a pretty similar hitter. Difference is Pena profiles as a guy that can improve, at least his power, and has more speed on the bases, while Frenchie, we get what we see.

    The other thing I would like to see is Pena not pushed up into spots in the batting order that come with expectations, at least until he can meet those expectations. No one wants their clean up hitter or 5 hole guy to be a 15HR/70RBI guy. Like I said though, of all the players we have, the one that could take that next step and become a 25/90 guy is Jeremy Pena. Until then though, he should only be pressed into 6 or 7 hole hitting to give guys days off or because of injury.

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    • What I wonder is if we really want Pena to become a 25/90 guy or if he’d benefit the team being more of a 15/70 guy who sacrifices the power to get on base more. There are always moments in games where a HR can swing the momentum or put the team in front, but those don’t come up every at bat. Last season he walked 25 times. 20 of those came on full counts. In 66 PA where the count when full he had 20BB, 13K, 9H, 1HR, and 5RBI. There were no doubles or triples. Pitchers are going to continue throwing the slider out of the zone hoping he chases. They aren’t going to hang as many in the zone because they know it doesn’t even have to start as a strike to get his bat moving. I think just being a more competitive hitter in those situations would add the value the team needs.

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      • Devin, I do like his .455 OBP in that full count situation. I wonder what the league average is for hitters with a 3-2 count.

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      • Dave, I don’t have time to tally it up, but in 2024 our pitchers had 948 PA reach a full count and gave up a .439 OBP. Our hitters collectively took 766 counts to full and had a .469 OBP. Just cherry picking some data, here are some other team’s offenses:
        NYY: 1008 PA .475 OBP

        MIL: 1000 PA .468 OBP

        LAD: 944 PA .466 OBP

        TEX: 864 PA .464 OBP

        COL: 825 PA .445 OBP

        LAA: 879 PA .441 OBP

        CHW: 749 PA .416 OBP

        MIA: 773 PA .413 OBP

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  8. I just got a response on my question from AI. Seems MLB hitters reach base after a full count 45.5% of the time, exactly what Pena’s OBP was in that situation last year!

    Devin, I think I’d still prefer Jeremy be a 25/90 guy. I’d put him right in the 2 slot.

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    • If you gave me a choice between two guys – one that hit 25 HR with a .325 OBP or one that hit 15 HR with a .355 OBP, I’m always taking the OBP guy, though you probably need a little of both types in your lineup. It’s just that Pena isn’t the only one struggling to give you one or the other, OBP or power. He also isn’t the only one that out of the zone sliders kill.

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      • Yeah, I’d take the .355 OBP and the 15 dingers too. This team needs more OBP especially having lost two of our best OBP guys historically.

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  9. I just got a response on my question from AI. Seems MLB hitters reach base after a full count 45.5% of the time, exactly what Pena’s OBP was in that situation last year!

    Devin, I think I’d still prefer Jeremy be a 25/90 guy. I’d put him right in the 2 slot.

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    • We don’t have room for Verdugo now. Don’t forget, Bregman is coming back and Paredes is going to learn how to play left.

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    • I don’t put any stock in a MSN article. If I don’t see it on MLB Trade Rumors, I don’t pay attention.

      Some of these guys are running out of time. I’m no fan of Verdugo, a little loud for my tastes, but there is a fit there. Lefty that isn’t going to break the bank and can bat near the bottom of the order that is an upgrade over other ideas. It just comes down to cost, and while a lot of these guys are going to be left without seat when the music stops, I don’t think Verdugo will be one even after a slightly down year. If he finds himself standing there having to take a 6-7M, 1 year deal I don’t think its the worst thing the Astros could do.

      He adds depth a lefty bat that can be present without disrupting giving Dezenzo and Chas both time to get rhythms. Heck in a worse case, you sign Verdugo, Dezenzo starts tearing it up, maybe you find a way to finally get Chas out to CF and Meyers out of the lineup.

      But I don’t think it happens. The Astros are more likely to lean toward Gamel or Heyward, since they know they fit the culture and will be even cheaper than Verdugo.

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    • I don’t like our home park, but the LF dimensions allow you to hide someone out there. I know the consensus is that we don’t like Jake Meyers, but defensively you aren’t finding an upgrade. In 513 PA last year he slashed .213 / .286 / .360 with 61 RBI. He had one error across 144 games in CF and was 15 runs saved above average by one of the metrics. I want to see his PA cut back considerably so he can be used in favorable matchups and exposed less.

      I’m not excited by the Verdugo rumor. As for Bregman coming back, the rumors make it sound like it’s down to Detroit. Given the failure of the Javy Baez I’d be surprised to see them match what Houston previously offered.

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      • Good morning all! Devin, Baseball Savant has Jake with a +14 in the range department, but unfortunately a -15 in batted run value. He really should start against lefty pitching only and also be used as a late inning defensive guy or a pitch runner. But there is some value in what he brings to a 26 man roster. The challenge though is for Dana Brown to somehow find a lefty bat for the outfield that can also play some defensive and it seems for now anyway, to stay under the tax threshold.

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      • Good morning all! Devin, Baseball Savant has Jake with a +14 in the range department, but unfortunately a -15 in batted run value. He really should start against lefty pitching only and also be used as a late inning defensive guy or a pitch runner. But there is some value in what he brings to a 26 man roster. The challenge though is for Dana Brown to somehow find a lefty bat for the outfield that can also play some defensive and it seems for now anyway, to stay under the tax threshold.

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  11. I think I’d probably go with Verdugo too, especially if the cost was 6 or 7 for a year. The guy is pretty good in the outfield.

    And against right-handers, his lifetime splits are pretty good too.

    .280/.334/.447/.781

    He’ll still be 28 when the season starts. I’d expect a rebound.

    Problem is that unless Dana can move Presley and find the money that way, or heaven forbid move Caratini, he might not have the approval to go back into tax territory again this year.

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  12. I think I’d probably go with Verdugo too, especially if the cost was 6 or 7 for a year. The guy is pretty good in the outfield.

    And against right-handers, his lifetime splits are pretty good too.

    .280/.334/.447/.781

    He’ll still be 28 when the season starts. I’d expect a rebound.

    Problem is that unless Dana can move Presley and find the money that way, or heaven forbid move Caratini, he might not have the approval to go back into tax territory again this year.

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    • Sounds like a good signing for the Giants. They’re probably not relevant, but if JV is healthy they can trade him somewhere in the summer. Last year they paid Blake Snell $32M to give them 5 wins in 20 starts. JV could easily match that (before being traded) for half the money.

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  15. 15 million guaranteed for Verlander. I’d never count him out, but that’s a lot of money from a team that likely won’t be competing this year.

    If the Astros can tweak Hayden Wesneski, he’ll become a very valuable piece of the Tucker trade. We’ve got him under club control through 2029.

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  16. 15 million guaranteed for Verlander. I’d never count him out, but that’s a lot of money from a team that likely won’t be competing this year.

    If the Astros can tweak Hayden Wesneski, he’ll become a very valuable piece of the Tucker trade. We’ve got him under club control through 2029.

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