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Jeremy Pena 2026 Fantasy Baseball Outlook: Some Regression Risk, but Five-Category Contributor Looks Cheap
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena enjoyed his most productive season as a major leaguer to date, recording a .304-17-62-68-20 line with a .363 wOBA and 135 wRC+ in 493 at-bats (125 games) in 2025. It could have been even more fruitful if not for a fractured rib as a result of a hit-by-pitch that cost him the entire month of July. The former third-round draft pick saw notable year-over-year improvements (2.5 percent or more) in his barrel, hard-hit, and walk rate while maintaining a better-than-average strikeout rate. However, some batting average regression could be on the way as a poor 11th percentile chase rate, a below-average contact rate (74.1 percent), and a high BABIP compared to what he came into the season with (.345 vs. .308) indicate that his .304 BA from 2025 may not be sustainable. Nevertheless, a .275 average would still be well above league average (.245), so you're getting a five-category contributor at a very cheap price, with an NFBC ADP of around 97 overall, while RotoBaller ranks the 28-year-old much higher at 79 overall.
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