Why everything you thought you knew about Astros' Jeremy Pena is probably wrong

DON'T LOOK NOW!

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena had some huge expectations placed on him in his second big league season after taking home the hardware for ALCS and World Series MVP as a rookie.

And while Pena hasn't taken a big step forward in 2023, several of his stats have improved this season, including his on base percentage and batting average. He's also posted a .330 batting average over his last 30 games and has a slugging percentage over .500 in his last 15 games.

It appears Pena is getting hot at just the right time, with only about a month left in the regular season.

Plus, we can't help but compare Pena to former Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. You might be surprised to learn that Pena currently has a higher OPS and batting average than Correa, and that comes at a fraction of the cost.

Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss Pena's offensive surge over the last month and what we should reasonably expect from him moving forward.

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The Tucker trade is already paying huge dividends. Composite Getty Image.

It’s starting to look like the Astros knew exactly what they were doing.

What once felt like a risky move is quickly shaping up to be a win for Houston — and maybe a defining pivot point for the franchise. In this episode, we dig into how the Astros may actually be better off in the wake of the Kyle Tucker trade, thanks to a new wave of production and smart roster-building.

Cam Smith continues to rise with another eye-catching performance, launching two home runs and making the case that he’s already ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, Isaac Paredes has quietly emerged as a legitimate successor to Alex Bregman, offering power and presence in the infield.

And while Jeremy Peña wasn’t part of the Tucker deal, his 2024 resurgence adds even more fuel to the argument that this team is thriving — not surviving. The Astros aren’t just plugging holes. They’re planning for what’s next.

We also look at the bigger picture: What if Houston had moved on earlier from other aging or underperforming stars? Could they have been ahead of the curve even sooner?

So who’s really winning this breakup — the Astros or Kyle Tucker? We break it all down.

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