MACK - Top 28 Prospects - #4 - SS - Elian Pena

 

The excitement about the Mets' prospect pipeline has been building year over year as the team improves their domestic and international scouting.  Many of the Mets' picks are being discussed throughout baseball, so Mack has boiled it down to the top 28 to give the readers a glimpse into the team's future.  This series will run for 28 days, counting down from #28 to #1.  The entire list can be viewed by clicking "2026 Top 28 Prospects" on the top menu bar.

4.     Elian Pena

GROK -

Elian Peña is a 17-year-old shortstop (born October 19, 2007, in Azua, Dominican Republic.

He's a left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, listed at 5'10" and 180 pounds, and is widely regarded as one of the Mets' top prospects following a blockbuster international signing.

On January 15, 2025—the opening day of the international signing period—Peña signed with the Mets for a record-breaking $5 million bonus, the largest ever given by the franchise to an international free agent (shattering the previous high of $2.85 million to Yovanny Rodriguez in 2024). This was the highest bonus for any Latin American prospect in the 2025 class and the second-highest overall (behind Rōki Sasaki's $6.5 million with the Dodgers). It consumed most of the Mets' $6.26 million international bonus pool.

Peña, who trained with La Alianza academy in the Dominican Republic, was ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 3 international prospect (behind Sasaki and Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez) and Baseball America's No. 2 (behind Sasaki).

David Stearns called him a "unique talent" with a left-handed swing, power, strike-zone awareness, and work ethic, noting he's already one of the top prospects on the island.

Peña is praised as a potential five-tool player with elite hitting ability for his age.

Hit tool: Plus-to-plus-plus bat speed, advanced plate discipline (rare for a teenager), excellent pitch recognition, and the ability to spray line drives to all fields. MLB Pipeline gave him a 65-grade hit tool.

Power: Projects for 25-30 HR potential as he adds strength to his lean, athletic frame (still growing physically).

Defense: Smooth actions at shortstop with soft hands, plus arm strength, good range, and instincts. He's expected to stick at SS long-term, though some project a future move to 3B or 2B for less demand on speed (which is average but playable).

Speed/Running: Above-average underway, 21 stolen bases in pro debut.

Overall: Baseball America grades him 55/Extreme risk, with high baseball IQ and leadership potential

2025 Performance (Pro Debut)

Assigned to the Dominican Summer League (DSL) Mets Orange (rookie level), Peña had a standout season despite starting 0-for-26:In ~55 games: .292/.423/.540 (.949 OPS), 9 HR (six in just two games—two separate three-HR games, making him one of only two pros in 2025 with multiple three-HR performances), 33 RBI, 46 runs, 35 walks, 21 SB (on 25 attempts).

ETA:      Around 2030, given his youth. Likely starts 2026 in the Florida Complex League (stateside rookie ball), with potential for quick rises if he dominates.

 

11-3-2025

Angry Mike/MM

Elian Pena was the most highly touted prospect the Mets have ever signed from an International free agent standpoint and even from a MLB Draft standpoint. His $5 Million signing bonus was almost twice as much as the previous club record ($2.85 Million - Yovanny Rodriguez) and close to matching Kevin Parada’s record signing bonus from the 2022 Draft. Needless to say expectations were massive for the young phenom, who many scouts deemed as one of the most polished and talented prospects they’ve ever seen.

Scouts compared him to Juan Soto because of his advanced pitch recognition, plus bat to bat skills, and burgeoning power potential. Scouts raved about his work ethic and high baseball I.Q., which is about as rare for a prospect his age, as was the 65 scouting grade he received for his “Hit Tool”. Only 1 other teenager received a 65 scouting grade for his “Hit Tool” (TerMarr Johnson - 70 Grade - 2022 MLB Draft) out of the thousands of prospects entering the professional ranks as free agents or via the MLB Draft.

Vlad Guerrero Jr, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Wander Franco, and Julio Rodriguez rank among the teenaged greatest prospects ever to be procured from the South American talent pool, and not a single one received a unanimous 65 scouting grade for their “Hit Tool”, Elian Pena was the first prospect ever to receive that distinction.

 

11-7-2025

Just Baseball

11. Elian Peña – SS – (DSL)

Height/Weight: 5’10″, 185 | Bat/Throw: L/R | IFA: $5M, 2025 (NYM) | ETA: 2029

The centerpiece of the Mets 2025 IFA cycle, Peña accounted for more than 80% of the Mets bonus pool, selling David Stearns and co. on his above average tools across the board and advanced left-handed stroke.

After an 0-for-26 start to his pro career, Peña OPS’d north of 1.000 the rest of the way, launching nine homers and walking more than he struck out, generating plenty of buzz heading into his 2026 season.

Hitting

Peña syncs his upper and lower half well for a teenage prospect, helping him repeat his moves and create leverage. He starts upright with his hands rested just above his shoulder, getting into his back side with a moderate gather and smooth, rhythmic hand load.

Of course, it’s more difficult to maintain rhythm against more challenging pitching, but Peña has better control of his timing and mechanics than most hitters his age. As a result, he is able to pull the ball in the air at a high clip, translating into nine homers and 23 extra base hits over his final 44 games of the 2025 season with a 35% ground ball rate.

Peña recognized spin well in the DSL, walking more than he struck out while producing strong numbers in left on left matchups. It’s early in his development, but Peña’s 2025 campaign made it easy to see why he was the crown jewel of the Mets IFA class.

Defense/Speed

An above-average runner, Peña made gains with his straight-line speed and overall quickness, helping his chances of being able to fend off a move to third base. How Peña progresses physically will play a large part in his defensive outcome. His plus arm and good hands would profile well at third base if he does slow a bit.

Outlook

Steve Cohen and David Stearns have made it a point to improve the organization’s ability to acquire international talent and made the biggest splash of the 2025 period outside of Roki Sasaki. The Mets will give Peña every opportunity at shortstop, where he has enough going for him to have a chance at sticking.

In the more likely event that he moves over to the hot corner, Peña’s offensive upside is exciting enough to meet the higher offensive bar the position demands and then some. His advanced blend of hit, power and plate discipline in the DSL should ease his transition stateside in 2026 with a chance to hit his way off of the Complex to Low-A quickly in his age 18 season.

 

11-17-2025 –

Running From The OPS      @OPS_BASEBALL

Elian Pena - New York Mets

Pena received the largest bonus ($5 million) for any Latin American prospect this season and showed exactly why. The 18-year-old posted a 144 wRC+ with 9 HR, 21 SB, and a 1:1 K/BB ratio. He had 2 3-HR games this season and has a fantastic toolset.

 

11-22-2025 –

MACK/MM

Elian Pena – Here he is. The 65-grade hitting tool-guy that signed in January 2025 for $5,000,000 (team total pool: $6.25mil) got off to a real, slow start this past season for the DSL Mets. Opened up 0-26. Send the check back! And then all the hype turned into reality. Finished the season at 9-HR, 33-RBI, 21-SB, .292/.421/.528/.949. It seems like there is nothing but up for this kid that will play 2016 as an 18-yr. old. 

There’s no reason to push him to St. Lucie on opening day. Jiminez is there. But, there is an outside chance he could. He definitely will finish there. My guess is he is FCL Mets bound for their opening day. Where is he going? I got people down there. They say they have never before seen someone this talented. They emphasized the word NEVER.

 

12-5-2025 

Angry Mike/MM

ELIAN PENA -> Stateside arrival, all eyes will be on the young phenom to see if he can build on his impressive pro debut.

-> Where will he start? Will he be fast-tracked like Jett Williams, if he hits the ground running?