Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña has developed a reputation early on in his MLB career as one of the best defensive players in all of baseball. And he showed off his fielding skills in a big way in Game 3 of their ALDS matchup against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.
Peña won a Gold Glove award in his first full season in the MLB last year, and plays like the one he made on Tuesday is a big reason why.
The Astros got out to a quick lead in Tuesday’s game, leading 6-0 through five innings. However, the Twins got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning and had the chance to make it an even closer game.
Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers came to the plate with one out and two runners on base and laced a ground ball up the middle that looked like it could have been an easy RBI for Minnesota.
Peña had other plans, however, as he was able to miraculously dive and snag the ball on a hop. He then quickly shoveled the ball to second base to start an inning-ending double play.
Jeremy Peña!@astros turn 2 to get out of the inning!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/1V1AYfgEPo
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 10, 2023
You won’t see many plays better than this from anyone all postseason. And fans praised Peña for the timely play on social media.
What a terrific play by Jeremy Peña, starting a 6-4-3 double play to end the six. pic.twitter.com/BdDr7GEEP6
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) October 10, 2023
Jeremy Peña with an inning-ending double play! pic.twitter.com/YTppgDXfaZ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 10, 2023
Jeremy Peña is HIM pic.twitter.com/FPmEDF98bA
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) October 10, 2023
JEREMY PENA DEFENSE IS ELITE pic.twitter.com/VSpFpaO6OU
— Chubby chas SZN (@JON_GUERRA9) October 10, 2023
Jeremy Peña starts an INCREDIBLE double play to get out of the 6th! 🤯pic.twitter.com/9lzJA225qa
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) October 10, 2023
Jeremy Peña postseason defense is top notch 🔥. He makes a beautiful diving play, turns it into an inning ending double play 😮💨😮💨. #Ready2Reign #MLBPostseason #ALDS pic.twitter.com/yk8uWa6jaN
— Top Bunk Sports (@Topbunksports) October 10, 2023
Peña is certainly no stranger to coming up big in the postseason, being named both the ALCS MVP and the World Series MVP in the Astros championship run last year.
If Peña has that kind of impact this postseason for the Astros, Houston could very well represent the American League in the World Series again this year.
