Houston Astros’ Jeremy Peña has been significantly emphasizing refining his hitting approach during the offseason. This commitment became evident during the first full-squad spring training session this Monday in West Palm Beach, Florida. Coming off a remarkable 2022 season where he clinched the World Series MVP title with a stunning .345 batting average and a 1.005 OPS in the postseason, Peña’s performance was instrumental in critical moments. Notably, his 17th-inning homer in the American League Divisional Series was a game-changer, and his subsequent home runs against the Yankees and a historic hit in the World Series highlighted his rookie year.
However, the 2023 postseason saw a decline in Peña’s performance, with his batting average dropping to .200 and his OPS to .463, failing to hit a single home run. Despite an improvement in his regular-season batting average and on-base percentage from his rookie to sophomore year, his home run count significantly decreased.
In response to this, Peña has been working on fine-tuning his batting stance. Gone are the days of his pre-swing bat swirl. Now, he adopts a more static starting position with the bat resting on his shoulder, aiming for simplicity and consistency. “I’m just simplifying things, being a little quieter, and being a little more consistent with positions,” Peña told the media.
This new approach retains some movement to avoid completely departing from his previous style. Peña explained, “I’m starting the bat from a still position on my shoulder, but I’m still doing some kind of movement with the hands as I’m going. I’m not completely getting rid of the wag. It’s just kind of controlling it a little bit more.” This adjustment is a strategic move to enhance control and precision in his swings.
As the Astros gear up for their spring training opener against the Washington Nationals this Saturday, all eyes will be on Peña to see how these adjustments play out in real game situations. Hopefully, this revamped batting stance will help Peña recapture his postseason prowess and contribute significantly to the Astros’ campaign. With his team’s and fans’ support, Peña’s offseason efforts are a testament to his dedication to continuous improvement and adaptability in his game.