Luis Pena

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #25 prospect in 2009
  Pena threw the ball so well in the first half of the 2008 season, that he seemed on the verge of getting a call to the big leagues at any time. But following a poor outing in the Triple-A all-star game, he started to lose his control and began walking hitters in bunches. He never got his act together, blowing any shot at even a September callup. It was a far cry from the previous season, when Pena made great strides and earned a spot on the 40-man roster after bouncing back from shoulder surgery that held him back in 2005 and '06. He not only lost command of his mid-90s fastball in 2008, but he also couldn't get his slider over the plate and his confidence waned. Focus was a problem as well, as he converted save opportunities but struggled in other situations. Pena still has a great pitcher's body and live arm, so he can return to good graces by showing up in spring training and throwing strikes. When he gets his fastball over the plate, his slider can be a devastating weapon and he has the stuff to pitch at the back of a bullpen.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #14 prospect in 2008
  Finally recovered from shoulder surgery that shortened his 2005 and 2006 seasons, Pena flashed the form that had the Brewers excited about him when they signed him out of Venezuela in 1999. He no longer is a starting pitcher, however, having made a successful transition to the bullpen. Pena is all about power, as he regularly throws in the mid-90s with good life on his fastball and backs it up with a sharp, late-breaking 88- 90 mph slider. He has a great pitcher's body that allows him to throw on a downhill plane. No longer having to pace himself or worry about a changeup, Pena just turned the ball loose and reached Double-A for the first time in 2007. He didn't miss a beat in Huntsville, converting 12-of-14 save opportunities and limiting opponents to a .211 average. At times, he struggles with the command of his slider. But he improved his stock so dramatically that he was added to the 40-man roster in November and might find his way into the Milwaukee bullpen as early as this year. He eventually could become a set-up man or possibly a closer.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #23 prospect in 2005
  After three years in Rookie ball and an unremarkable season in low Class A, Pena returned to Beloit last year and suddenly took off. The velocity on his fastball spiked, and he began to regularly dial it into the low to mid-90s. With a tall, lanky build and fluid arm action, he overpowered hitters at times. Pena also throws a curveball and changeup and is working on a splitter as well. He has good life on his fastball but must continue to develop his breaking stuff. Though some scouts say Pena could be a successful late-inning reliever, the Brewers want him to continue to start so he can develop all of his pitches. Still young at 22, he'll be given plenty of time to develop. A classic example of a pitcher who benefited from repeating levels, Pena probably will move up to Milwaukee's new high Class A Brevard County affiliate this year. The Brewers have been impressed with his intelligence and focused approach on the mound, which they think will allow him to continue to improve.