When Carlos Correa announced before the season that he was signing a three-year contract with the Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros fans started to worry about the shortstop situation.
The Astros had a talented shortstop in the system ready to take over from Correa; a third-round pick from the 2018 MLB Draft named Jeremy Pena.
Few people expected him to be Correa, a franchise legend who went to three World Series (winning one) and has 18 career postseason home runs.
The young replacement wasn’t Correa: he was Jeremy Pena, and that was more than enough to succeed.
He didn’t live in Correa’s shadow: he built his own path towards greatness, and the results were satisfactory for everyone involved.
“Jeremy Peña was asked to step in at shortstop for Carlos Correa as a 25-year-old rookie: Gold Glove (first ever by rookie SS); 22 HR in regular season; .345 BA | 4 HR | 8 RBI in playoffs; ALCS & WS MVP; World Series Champion. Safe to say he was up for the challenge,” CBS Sports tweeted.
Jeremy Peña was asked to step in at shortstop for Carlos Correa as a 25-year-old rookie
🔸Gold Glove (first ever by rookie SS)
🔸22 HR in regular season
🔸.345 BA | 4 HR | 8 RBI in playoffs
🔸ALCS & WS MVP
🔸World Series ChampionSafe to say he was up for the challenge pic.twitter.com/iZ5uwKftgP
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 6, 2022
A Dream Rookie Season
With 15 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 7 Outs Above Average (OAA), Pena won the Gold Glove at shortstop over several stars, including Correa himself.
He was brilliant against the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series, taking home MVP honors.
He finished his excellent year by beating the Philadelphia Phillies together with his Astros teammates and becoming the World Series MVP in the process, too.
You could say that Pena will remember his 2022 until the day he ceases to exist.
It was a dream rookie season.
Since he had a .289 regular season OBP, he clearly has things to work on.
However, he has shown time and time again that he has the talent to achieve big things.
His career is off to a scintillating start.
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