Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Pena has been a reliever in the Padres system ever since signing for $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in January 2022, 10 days before his 21st birthday. After one season in the Dominican Summer League, he’s been on a fast track toward San Diego, having played for all five stateside affiliates between 2023 and ’24. In his most recent campaign, he finished with a 2.43 ERA and 64 strikeouts over 63 innings across the top three levels of the Minors. Like many Padres pitching prospects, his numbers jumped at hitter-friendly El Paso but not enough to be overly concerning.

Pena cuts a thin figure at 6-foot-1, setting up out of the stretch from the first-base side of the rubber. But he generated over 7 feet of extension at Triple-A, putting himself close to the plate with dynamic stuff. He throws a pair of fastballs, both in the 94-97 mph range -- a sinker with more than 11 inches of armside run and a straighter four-seamer. He leaned on the former more at Triple-A, which makes sense given his other offering. In 2025, his most oft-used secondary is an 86-89 mph two-plane slider that he uses to get a ton of whiffs.

Walks weren't a huge issue for Pena in the Minors until his extended time at Triple-A in '25. The sinker helps him run a heavy ground-ball rate. The lack of a changeup may make him a questionable fit against lefties at the top level, but the slider has served him well enough so far. He has to find more strikes if he's going to earn that MLB debut.

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
	10/15/2025	RHP Francis Pena assigned to Leones del Escogido.
	08/16/2025	El Paso Chihuahuas activated RHP Francis Pena from the 7-day injured list.
	07/31/2025	El Paso Chihuahuas placed RHP Francis Pena on the 7-day injured list.
	04/08/2025	RHP Francis Pena assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from ACL Padres.
	03/28/2025	RHP Francis Pena assigned to ACL Padres from El Paso Chihuahuas.
	03/06/2025	activated RHP Francis Pena.
	02/07/2025	San Diego Padres invited non-roster RHP Francis Pena to spring training.
	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.