Is Playoff Pena Back for Houston Astros?

After an incredible run in last year's postseason, Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena struggled at times in 2023. But during the ALDS, he flashed what many fans saw from his last year giving hope that Playoff Pena is back.

Jeremy Pena had one of the most remarkable runs during the 2022 postseason that a player could have, let alone a rookie in only his fourth year of professional baseball.

The Houston Astros shortstop won the ALCS MVP and World Series MVP. It felt like every time he was at the plate, he delivered an important hit.

Every time he needed to make a play in the field, he didn't miss a beat.

Pena finished the 2022 MLB Playoffs with a slash line of .345/.367/.638 with four home runs, five doubles and eight RBI.

He turned from a relatively unknown rookie into a star.

The expectations for him heading into 2023 were through the roof, so any sign of struggles in the field and at the plate was magnified. Some advanced metrics showed an overall decline in Pena's defense this season compared to last.

But when the Astros needed a big play in Game 4 of the ALDS, he delivered once again.

The 26-year-old caught a line drive up the middle and dove back to double up the runner leading from second.

It was a huge play because the next batter on the Minnesota Twins hit a home run.

"I always say whenever you can get the outs, you take them. In the postseason, every play can be huge. Lewis hit the home run, and if Julien would have been at second, it would have been a two-run homer, and who knows what happens," he said.

Luckily for Houston and their fans, no one will know what would have happened if Pena didn't make that play.

That's because it looks like Playoff Pena might be back for the Astros.

His hitting still needs to improve before being considered all the way back, but his defense has reminded people why he won the Gold Glove last season.

Houston will need him to flip the switch if they want to repeat as World Series champions. He was one of the biggest reasons why they won their second ever championship in 2022.