The Houston Astros are entering the upcoming season hoping the roster stays healthy enough to return to the MLB playoffs. Last year, the Astros collapsed in the second half and missed out on postseason play during the final week of the regular season.
Fortunately for Houston, much of the core remains intact, and that includes shortstop Jeremy Pena, who emerged as a true superstar in 2025. The 28‑year‑old earned his first All‑Star selection and finished tenth in American League MVP voting.
After his 2022 World Series MVP and Gold Glove rookie season, Pena had slowed down over the next two years, so seeing him take a major step forward was a welcome development for the Astros.
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As the Astros prepare for their first game of the year Thursday at home against the Los Angeles Angels, Pena’s availability has been a major question. He fractured his right ring finger while training with the Dominican Republic ahead of the World Baseball Classic, an injury that forced him to miss the entire tournament.
However, he had been making steady progress since then. Pena returned to game action Tuesday at Triple A and even launched a home run. When the Astros announced their 26‑man Opening Day roster, he was included, making it appear likely he would be available Thursday.
That changed when the Opening Day lineup was released. Carlos Correa was listed at shortstop, and Pena was nowhere to be found. The Astros then announced an update, revealing that Pena was not with the team and would continue taking live at‑bats in Triple A (h/t Chandler Rome of The Athletic). The update indicates Pena is close but not yet ready.
With Pena beginning his season away from the Astros and rehabbing at Triple A, his absence is significant even if it lasts only a short time. Last year, he posted a .304 batting average, .363 on‑base percentage, .840 OPS, 17 home runs and 20 stolen bases across 125 games.
Pena remains under team control for just two more seasons, and it is unclear whether he and the Astros will reach an extension, especially after the organization traded for Correa at last year’s deadline, giving them insurance should Pena eventually depart in free agency.
