Manuel Pena

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #22 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The D-backs made Pena the highest-paid player ($1.2 million) in their international class in 2021 because they liked his loose, easy swing, his disciplined approach and his likelihood of sticking on the infield. He has held his own through two seasons, including reaching full-season ball at 18, opening eyes with his offensive potential and standout work ethic.
  
  Scouting Report: Pena has a controlled but aggressive swing with plus bat speed and the ability to spray line drives to all fields. He has good hands and feel to hit. He has gap power now but should grow into more as he matures. He has no trouble timing up fastballs. He can get overly aggressive and pull happy. Still, he has the makings of a good approach thanks to his ability to recognize balls from strikes. He is a fringy runner and his lack of speed and quickness make him a better fit at second than short. He has the pregame routine of a big leaguer and impresses coaches with his diligence. Pena profiles as an average defender at second with an above-average arm.
  
  The Future: The D-backs hope to see Pena add more strength to his frame, further refine his approach and show continued improvement as a hitter. They foresee a regular or semi-regular infielder with offensive impact. He will be 19 in 2023 and figures to open the season at Low-A Visalia. Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #30 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The D-backs liked Pena’s sweet, lefthanded swing, his sound approach and his ability to stick on the infield dirt when they signed him for $1.2 million in January, giving him the largest bonus of any player in the club’s 2020-21 international class. He debuted in the Dominican Summer League and held his own, impressing evaluators with the quality of his at-bats.
  
  Scouting Report: Pena’s supporters have little doubt about his ability to hit. He has a clean, loose swing and a good feel for putting the barrel on the ball. He gets good marks for his advanced approach at the plate. He also works deep counts and controls the zone well. Defensively, he has good hands and a solid, accurate throwing arm, but he lacks the kind of range necessary to stick at shortstop. Evaluators expect him to shift either to third or second. He impressed the organization with his mature work habits and his dedication and focus on improving.
  
  The Future: After a solid debut, Pena likely makes his way stateside for the first time in 2022. Those who believe in him see a potential impact hitter in the mold of Eric Chavez or Rafael Devers, only with less power.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #21 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Peña built a reputation as one of the top pure hitters from the Dominican Republic in his international class when he signed with the D-backs during the 2020-21 signing period.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Peña takes a compact swing with a good bat path from the left side and an advanced offensive approach. That has helped him hit well in games with the ability to barrel balls consistently. Peña makes hard contact for his age, has a swing geared to hit the ball in the air and the physical projection to develop 20-25 home run power in the future, possibly more given his knack for putting the sweet spot on the ball. Peña is an offensive-oriented player who many scouts thought would go to third or second base. Long term, that is probably still the case, but he has improved defensively in terms of his ability to read hops and use better technique to field the ball with good balance and body control, giving him a chance to keep developing as a shortstop. A slightly below-average runner, Peña has soft hands but needs to improve his footwork. He's a slightly below-average runner whose range probably leads him off the position as he gets bigger, with a 50-55 arm that could be plus in the future.
  
  THE FUTURE: Peña is one of the more advanced hitters the D-backs have signed out of the Dominican Republic in recent years. He’s still several years away, but his hitting ability should translate quickly.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The D-backs made Pena the highest-paid player ($1.2 million) in their international class in 2021 because they liked his loose, easy swing, his disciplined approach and his likelihood of sticking on the infield. He has held his own through two seasons, including reaching full-season ball at 18, opening eyes with his offensive potential and standout work ethic.
  
  Scouting Report: Pena has a controlled but aggressive swing with plus bat speed and the ability to spray line drives to all fields. He has good hands and feel to hit. He has gap power now but should grow into more as he matures. He has no trouble timing up fastballs. He can get overly aggressive and pull happy. Still, he has the makings of a good approach thanks to his ability to recognize balls from strikes. He is a fringy runner and his lack of speed and quickness make him a better fit at second than short. He has the pregame routine of a big leaguer and impresses coaches with his diligence. Pena profiles as an average defender at second with an above-average arm.
  
  The Future: The D-backs hope to see Pena add more strength to his frame, further refine his approach and show continued improvement as a hitter. They foresee a regular or semi-regular infielder with offensive impact. He will be 19 in 2023 and figures to open the season at Low-A Visalia. Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The D-backs made Pena the highest-paid player ($1.2 million) in their international class in 2021 because they liked his loose, easy swing, his disciplined approach and his likelihood of sticking on the infield. He has held his own through two seasons, including reaching full-season ball at 18, opening eyes with his offensive potential and standout work ethic.
  
  Scouting Report: Pena has a controlled but aggressive swing with plus bat speed and the ability to spray line drives to all fields. He has good hands and feel to hit. He has gap power now but should grow into more as he matures. He has no trouble timing up fastballs. He can get overly aggressive and pull happy. Still, he has the makings of a good approach thanks to his ability to recognize balls from strikes. He is a fringy runner and his lack of speed and quickness make him a better fit at second than short. He has the pregame routine of a big leaguer and impresses coaches with his diligence. Pena profiles as an average defender at second with an above-average arm.
  
  The Future: The D-backs hope to see Pena add more strength to his frame, further refine his approach and show continued improvement as a hitter. They foresee a regular or semi-regular infielder with offensive impact. He will be 19 in 2023 and figures to open the season at Low-A Visalia. Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The D-backs liked Pena’s sweet, lefthanded swing, his sound approach and his ability to stick on the infield dirt when they signed him for $1.2 million in January, giving him the largest bonus of any player in the club’s 2020-21 international class. He debuted in the Dominican Summer League and held his own, impressing evaluators with the quality of his at-bats.
  
  Scouting Report: Pena’s supporters have little doubt about his ability to hit. He has a clean, loose swing and a good feel for putting the barrel on the ball. He gets good marks for his advanced approach at the plate. He also works deep counts and controls the zone well. Defensively, he has good hands and a solid, accurate throwing arm, but he lacks the kind of range necessary to stick at shortstop. Evaluators expect him to shift either to third or second. He impressed the organization with his mature work habits and his dedication and focus on improving.
  
  The Future: After a solid debut, Pena likely makes his way stateside for the first time in 2022. Those who believe in him see a potential impact hitter in the mold of Eric Chavez or Rafael Devers, only with less power.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Peña built a reputation as one of the top pure hitters from the Dominican Republic in his international class when he signed with the D-backs during the 2020-21 signing period.
  SCOUTING REPORT: Peña takes a compact swing with a good bat path from the left side and an advanced offensive approach. That has helped him hit well in games with the ability to barrel balls consistently. Peña makes hard contact for his age, has a swing geared to hit the ball in the air and the physical projection to develop 20-25 home run power in the future, possibly more given his knack for putting the sweet spot on the ball. Peña is an offensive-oriented player who many scouts thought would go to third or second base. Long term, that is probably still the case, but he has improved defensively in terms of his ability to read hops and use better technique to field the ball with good balance and body control, giving him a chance to keep developing as a shortstop. A slightly below-average runner, Peña has soft hands but needs to improve his footwork. He's a slightly below-average runner whose range probably leads him off the position as he gets bigger, with a 50-55 arm that could be plus in the future.
  THE FUTURE: Peña is one of the more advanced hitters the D-backs have signed out of the Dominican Republic in recent years. He's still several years away, but his hitting ability should translate quickly.
• January, 2021 Scouting Report
  Peña, who trains with Pablo Sosa, is expected to sign with the D-backs, with a bonus likely just shy of $1.5 million. He has grown into a lean, well-proportioned frame with good strength projection, with scouts highest on him drawn to his offensive upside. He has a compact lefthanded swing with emerging power that should continue to climb as he fills out and an approach conducive to hitting the ball in the air. Peña should begin his career at shortstop, though he might end up at third base or possibly second.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Peña built a reputation as one of the top pure hitters from the Dominican Republic in his international class when he signed with the D-backs during the 2020-21 signing period.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Peña takes a compact swing with a good bat path from the left side and an advanced offensive approach. That has helped him hit well in games with the ability to barrel balls consistently. Peña makes hard contact for his age, has a swing geared to hit the ball in the air and the physical projection to develop 20-25 home run power in the future, possibly more given his knack for putting the sweet spot on the ball. Peña is an offensive-oriented player who many scouts thought would go to third or second base. Long term, that is probably still the case, but he has improved defensively in terms of his ability to read hops and use better technique to field the ball with good balance and body control, giving him a chance to keep developing as a shortstop. A slightly below-average runner, Peña has soft hands but needs to improve his footwork. He's a slightly below-average runner whose range probably leads him off the position as he gets bigger, with a 50-55 arm that could be plus in the future.
  
  THE FUTURE: Peña is one of the more advanced hitters the D-backs have signed out of the Dominican Republic in recent years. He’s still several years away, but his hitting ability should translate quickly.