Inside the Astros

Jeremy Peña has Been a Hero the Houston Astros Need This Postseason

Rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña has had a memorable season, but he is proving to be the postseason hero the Houston Astros have needed.

Kade Kistner

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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The Houston Astros hold a commanding 2-0 lead over the Seattle Mariners in the American League Divisional Series. Yordan Álvarez has been the subject of all the headlines. 

Rightfully so after a walk-off home run in Game 1 and the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning of Game 2.

But the quiet hero has been Jeremy Peña.

Over the course of their two postseason games this year, Peña has reached base with two outs on three occasions to bring Álvarez to the plate.

Without that tenacity and type of at-bats, Game 1 would have been a loss and the outcome of Game 2 very likely would have been different.

It has been an incredible turnaround for the rookie who struggled at the plate in July and August who held just a .528 OPS in the former. He had an upswing in September that has carried over into the postseason.

Talk about good timing.

Despite news of former Astros shortstop Carlos Correa opting out of his deal with the Minnesota Twins and Peña being compared to him all season, the rookie very well may just cement his name into Houston's history books if continues on his current pace.

More From SI's Inside The Astros:

  1. Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Houston Astros?
  2. Report: Former Astros Pitcher Fiers' Contract Terminated By CPBL Club
  3. Can the Houston Astros Handle the Loss of Yordan Álvarez?
  4. Is There Any Hope for an Aging Yuli Gurriel?
  5. Grading the Houston Astros MLB Trade Deadline Transactions
  6. Jeremy Peña isn't Competing for Rookie of the Year, And That's a Good Thing
  7. Houston Astros Poised to Make Another World Series Run
  8. Mancini Mania: Behind the Houston Astros' Latest Streak of History
  9. Trey Mancini Gives Houston Astros a Much Deeper Lineup
  10. Yordan Álvarez Stopped Striking Out and Became the Best Hitter in Baseball

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Published
Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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