Francis Pena
P | Bats/Throws: R/R | 6' 1" 170LBS | Age: 23
MLB Pipeline Rank
PADRES: No. 14 |
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2024 3 2 5.17 15 0 0 15.2 16 1.34
Career Minors 10 11 3.36 82 0 5 120.2 123 1.28
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2024 15 3-2 5.17 15.2 16 1.34
Career Minors 82 10-11 3.36 120.2 123 1.28
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Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2022 DSL Padres DSL ROK 2 2 7.43 14 0 2 23.0 33 22 19 2 15 19 2.09
2023 3 Teams Minors 2 5 2.34 23 0 0 34.2 32 23 9 1 10 40 1.21
2023 ACL Padres ACL ROK 1 4 4.50 11 0 0 16.0 17 20 8 1 7 21 1.50
2023 Lake Elsinore Storm CAL A 1 1 0.51 11 0 0 17.2 14 3 1 0 2 17 0.91
2023 Fort Wayne TinCaps MID A+ 0 0 0.00 1 0 0 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 2 2.00
2024 3 Teams Minors 6 4 2.43 45 0 3 63.0 46 23 17 3 18 64 1.02
2024 Fort Wayne TinCaps MID A+ 3 0 0.86 11 0 2 21.0 13 3 2 0 7 17 0.95
2024 San Antonio Missions TEX AA 0 2 2.05 19 0 1 26.1 18 9 6 1 5 31 0.87
2024 El Paso Chihuahuas PCL AAA 3 2 5.17 15 0 0 15.2 15 11 9 2 6 16 1.34
El Paso Chihuahuas PCL AAA 3 2 5.17 15 0 0 15.2 15 11 9 2 6 16 1.34
San Antonio Missions TEX AA 0 2 2.05 19 0 1 26.1 18 9 6 1 5 31 0.87
Fort Wayne TinCaps MID A+ 3 0 0.82 12 0 2 22.0 14 3 2 0 8 19 1.00
Lake Elsinore Storm CAL A 1 1 0.51 11 0 0 17.2 14 3 1 0 2 17 0.91

Scouting Report

2024

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Pena signed with the Padres for $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic 10 days before his 21st birthday in January 2022. He immediately became a reliever in the San Diego system and arrived stateside for the first time in 2023, climbing from the Arizona Complex League to High-A Fort Wayne and even ending the year with six appearances in the Arizona Fall League. Pena returned to the Midwest League for 11 dominant outings in 2024 and was promoted in late May to Double-A San Antonio, where he continued to be a force out of the bullpen. San Diego got Pena to his third level of '24 with another move to Triple-A El Paso on Aug. 6.

The 6-foot-1 right-hander cuts a thin figure on the mound but can show explosive stuff, highlighted by a four-seamer that touches 99, sits 96-98 and can pop past hitters out of a three-quarters delivery. Because of the velo, he’s leaned heavily on that heater at Double-A, throwing it close to 70 percent of the time in the early going. He keeps the velocity coming with a low-90s cutter that looks much like the fastball until it breaks late, causing some swing-and-miss and even some chase. He doesn’t possess a more traditional breaking ball or changeup at this point in his development.

Pena has kept his walk rates nice and low during his 2024 campaign, but the chase on the cutter plays a role in that. More discerning hitters might lay off those, causing called balls to pile up more easily at higher levels. His lack of a cambio also leads to split concerns, dulling the overall package. The two individual pitches, however, provide some excitement for Pena to reach the Majors within four years of signing for only five figures.


Transactions

Team Date Transaction
08/06/2024 RHP Francis Pena assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from San Antonio Missions.
05/28/2024 RHP Francis Pena assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps.
05/28/2024 San Antonio Missions activated RHP Francis Pena.
03/14/2024 RHP Francis Pena assigned to San Diego Padres Prospects.
03/09/2024 RHP Francis Pena assigned to San Diego Padres.
09/22/2023 Peoria Javelinas activated RHP Francis Pena.
09/09/2023 RHP Francis Pena assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm.
07/28/2023 RHP Francis Pena assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
07/28/2023 Lake Elsinore Storm activated RHP Francis Pena.
06/05/2023 RHP Francis Pena assigned to ACL Padres.
06/02/2022 RHP Francis Pena assigned to DSL Padres.
01/15/2022 San Diego Padres signed free agent RHP Francis Pena to a minor league contract.