Jeremy Pena enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, and that resulted in him landing a one-year, $9.475 million deal in arbitration with the Houston Astros. He’s expected to operate as Houston’s starting shortstop, and his intriguing mix of contact, power, and speed makes him an above-average shortstop for the 2026 fantasy baseball season.
Pena had the best season of his career in 2025 by a sizable margin. He delivered a .304/.363/.477 slash line with 17 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 62 RBI, and 68 runs in 125 games.
He posted career-best marks in several categories, including OPS (.840) and strikeouts (93 in 543 plate appearances) while also hitting at least 15 homers for the third time in his four seasons in the majors.
Will Pena be able to repeat those numbers in 2026, or will he endure some inevitable regression?
What to Expect from Jeremy Pena in 2026 Fantasy Baseball
One of Pena’s biggest strengths is his ability to be a high-contact hitter, and the adjustments he made finally paid off in 2025. If he stays healthy for the 2026 campaign and is able to build on what he did in 2025, Pena could be a potential 30-30 hitter, which has a lot of value from the shortstop position.
He crushed fastballs at a .350 average but struggled a bit with off-speed pitches, so he could still find another level in his hitting if he makes the necessary adjustments.
Injuries slowed him down a bit in 2025, as he missed the entire month of July with a fractured rib and also ended the season on the IL with an oblique injury. However, he suffered a fractured right ring finger during a spring exhibition game in early March, putting his availability for Opening Day of the 2026 season in question.
When healthy, Pena figures to hit near the top of the Astros’ order due to his excellent ability to get on base, although it wouldn’t be shocking if his .363 mark of 2025 also experiences regression.
Even if there’s some slight regression, Pena could easily hit around .280 with legit 30-30 potential while being an elite run producer in a stacked Houston lineup. Ultimately, he could produce in the five main categories, but his ADP doesn’t really reflect that.
If you’re looking for a steady option at shortstop who could bring elite value across the board, Pena would be an interesting option to target in the early-to-mid rounds.
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