Jeremy Payton’s Impact: A New Era for Baseball Analytics

Jeremy Peña’s rise in 2025 has rattled Major League Baseball. He’s finally shed that old “overrated” tag and become one of the most impactful players around.

Once, people saw Peña as a solid but unspectacular shortstop. Now, he’s a real MVP candidate and, honestly, probably the Astros’ best position player.

As the season’s halfway point creeps up, Peña’s thriving. He’s got a new approach at the plate and MVP-level numbers to back it up.

Let’s dig into what’s changed for Peña this year—and how his growth puts him among baseball’s best.

The Evolution of Jeremy Peña: From Rookie Spark to MVP Contender

Things weren’t always smooth for Peña. When he took over for Carlos Correa in 2022, Peña flashed promise as a rookie and even snagged a Gold Glove and World Series MVP.

Fans loved his defense right away. Offensively, though, he lagged behind the league’s top shortstops.

Over his first three years, Peña’s bat was just average—100 wRC+, 16 home runs, and about 3.0 WAR per season. Not bad, but not eye-popping either.

Jump ahead to 2025 and Peña’s game looks almost unrecognizable. Through 81 games, he leads all shortstops in MLB with a wild 4.0 WAR.

His slash line—.325/.380/.495—and a 150 wRC+ show he’s reinvented himself at the plate. He’s hanging with stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and Trea Turner.

What’s Driving Peña’s Turnaround?

This isn’t just a lucky streak for Peña. He’s made real, visible changes to his approach.

The biggest? He’s cut his strikeout rate to a career-best 16%. That’s discipline and patience showing up in the numbers.

He’s also started pulling the ball in the air more, taking advantage of Houston’s short left field. That’s led to some clutch power moments.

Still, there’s a bit of luck in the mix. His .364 BABIP and the gap between his wOBA (.381) and expected wOBA (.347) hint that a little regression could be coming.

But you can’t ignore the legit adjustments—his stance, his mindset, the whole deal. Those changes are fueling this offensive jump.

Scott Boras in the Picture: A Future Contract on the Horizon

Peña’s nearing free agency, and he just switched to Scott Boras as his agent. That says a lot about his goals.

Boras is famous for landing huge contracts for his clients, and Peña looks ready to cash in. By the time he hits free agency at 30, he’ll probably want a long-term deal that matches his new status.

But his late MLB debut—he was 24—makes you wonder how teams will view his future. Can he keep this up into his 30s, or will age start to show?

Either way, his breakout couldn’t be better timed. He’s got a real shot at locking in a massive contract.

The MVP Conversation: How Peña Stacks Up Against the Competition

Right now, Peña’s numbers put him squarely in the MVP race. He’s outpacing big names like Bobby Witt Jr. and Trea Turner in WAR, and he’s doing it on both sides of the ball.

His defense is still elite. With the offense clicking, Peña’s become almost irreplaceable for the Astros.

He’s turning into the total package—exactly what Houston hoped for when they handed him the job after Correa left. That’s pretty wild to see play out.

Jeremy Peña Proves the Doubters Wrong

The Jeremy Peña of 2025 looks nothing like the rookie who had to fill Carlos Correa’s shoes. He’s not “the most overrated player in baseball” anymore.

Now, he’s carving out his spot among the game’s elite. Every highlight-reel play and clutch at-bat pushes the Astros closer to contention.

The days of calling Peña “solid but unspectacular” are long gone. He’s an MVP candidate and, honestly, might just be the next face of the franchise.

 
Here is the source article for this story: More Like Jeremy Payin-Ya