Jeremy Peña stats: Astros fans happy they let Carlos Correa walk

When the Houston Astros let shortstop Carlos Correa walk — or perhaps just didn’t offer him enough money — they did so for a reason. They had a backup plan in Jeremy Peña.

It’s very early in the season, but so far that backup plan is working to perfection.

Peña has yet to play at Minute Maid Park, but the kid is raking. He has three 3-hit games already, and is slashing .345/.375/.621 entering Sunday’s contest. While Houston had to feel confident in their scouting department in order to move on from Correa, it’s doubtful even they knew exactly how competent Peña would be to start the season.

Some of this could be due to the lack of data available on Peña, as this is his first expansive major-league experience. As teams gather that sort of information, the Astros young star will have to adjust. That’ll be the real tell.

But for now, Peña has shown a willingness to expand his strike zone in order to get on base, or hit them where they ain’t, in simplest terms. That’s the first and main adjustment he’ll have to make at the big-league level, as eventually lacking the sort of batters’ eye necessary to get on-base via walks will come back to haunt him.

Houston Astros fans prefer Jeremy Peña over Carlos Correa

While it’s early in the process, Houston sports fans aren’t afraid to jump the gun and proclaim their love for Peña, rather than Correa. Allowing the star shortstop to walk in favor of his younger counterpart also put more money in the bank for owner Jim Crane to (fans hope) spend more money on his team.

If Peña works out, it’s a win for Houston.

There were many more, as Correa hasn’t gotten off to the same hot start with his new team, the Minnesota Twins.