This Classical High alum is getting hot at the right time for the Houston Astros
BOSTON — Jeremy Peña couldn’t help but crack a joke.
The former Classical High standout is close to home this week. His three games with the Houston Astros against the Boston Red Sox could go a long way toward shaping the American League playoff field.
Peña was asked how many tickets he’d be leaving for friends and family during his lone regular-season visit to Fenway Park in 2023. He paused and smiled before offering a good-natured response.
“I’m playing for free this week,” the second-year shortstop said.
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And it’s no secret why he’s so popular on this particular trip. Peña was honored with a personal pep rally in Providence after sweeping Most Valuable Player honors in the A.L. Championship Series and World Series in 2022.
“It’s something I always say could have gone to anyone on the team,” Peña said. “We had guys who put together great performances.
“Winning the World Series your first year is special. It’s a dream come true.”
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Peña entered Monday night's game riding one of his best stretches of 2023. He slashed .333/.419/.426 through his previous 29 games, notching multiple hits in 12 of them. Peña was fresh off a historic Sunday in a 17-4 victory at Detroit, going 5-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes trying to put it together,” Peña said. “It’s just falling back into the preparation and the focus.
“Trying to prepare as best as possible for the game and then just going out there and competing. Letting the game take care of itself.”
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Peña's first career five-hit game ended a four-year wait for an Astros player to accomplish the feat — former Red Sox outfield prospect Josh Reddick was the last to do the honors in September 2019. Peña was also the first Houston shortstop to enjoy such a day since Jose Vizcaino in August 2002. Peña feels like he’s peaking just in time for the stretch run, and the Astros find themselves in a three-way sprint with the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers in the A.L. West.
“We’re getting into a hot stretch coming up,” Peña said. “Every game feels like a playoff game now. We’ve just got to keep playing.”
Peña has already bettered his rookie totals in doubles, walks and double plays turned. He’s walking more and striking out less than last season. March’s appearance with the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic has Peña set to enter the seventh month of his campaign, and he’s already attempting to prevent any physical slip over the next five weeks.
“I feel like this year I’ve done a better job taking care of my body,” Peña said. “I feel strong. I don’t feel tired. Just tried to manage myself a little better.”
Houston bolstered its roster at the trade deadline with several notable additions, including right-handed starter Justin Verlander. His locker in the back corner represents prime space in the cramped visiting clubhouse. Peña has graduated from the busy entryway during his first visit in 2022 to a spot along the back wall. He's flanked by veterans like Jose Abreu, Martin Maldonado, Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez.
“I try to always stay close to those guys,” Peña said. “You don’t need to go far to find mentors.
“Jose Altuve is a future Hall of Famer. Justin Verlander is in the clubhouse. Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley — I could keep going on and on. It’s a privilege to be around these guys.”
The Astros and Boston split a four-game series at Minute Maid Park last week, and Peña put together a couple of at-bats in particular in the third that showed his advanced maturity. He drew an eight-pitch walk against Chris Martin in the bottom of the eighth inning and lined a single through the right side to win a seven-pitch battle against Josh Winckowski in the bottom of the 10th. The Red Sox wound up holding on for a 7-5 victory and earned a split, but Houston entered Monday's rematch tied with the Rangers, 2½ games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays and 4½ games ahead of Boston in the A.L. Wild Card race.
“Everyone always says once you get a taste of it you want to keep tasting it,” Peña said. “And that’s true. We won the World Series last year, and the goal is to go back this year and try to win it again.”
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Another World Series title is the goal of Providence's Jeremy Peña
