Astros Facing Jeremy Pena Opening Day Injury Decision

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena is recovering from a finger injury with Opening Day just a few days away. According to manager Joe Espada, Pena could possibly be available for Opening Day, although nothing is guaranteed as of this story's publication.

"Jeremy Peña is taking batting practice on the field at Daikin Park currently. Joe Espada said yesterday the Astros still haven’t ruled out Peña being ready for opening day," Matt Kawahara reported on X (formerly Twitter).

The Astros are certainly going to be cautious with the situation. They will not have Pena play unless he is 100 percent ready to go. There is no reason to risk further injury early in the season.

With that being said, Houston would obviously love to have the star shortstop available if possible. The Astros are a better team with Pena on the field.

They have a difficult decision to make. Houston should make an announcement on the decision soon rather than later.

Jeremy Pena's 2026 Outlook is Bright Despite Injury

Pena, 28, earned the first All-Star selection of his big league career in 2025. His first three seasons in MLB were up and down from an offensive standpoint, but Pena took a step forward last year. He ultimately recorded a .304/.363/.477 slash line to go along with an .840 OPS and 17 home runs across 125 games played.

He was limited due to injury, as the 125 games was his lowest mark at the MLB level. Regardless, he enjoyed his best all-around offensive performance.

It would not be surprising to see Pena have another big year in 2026. He has clearly figured things out at the plate. The biggest question is whether or not he will be able to stay healthy. After playing in only 125 games a season ago, Pena is already dealing with an injury concern this spring.

The good news is that Pena will likely return soon even if he is not back for 2026 Opening Day. As Kawahara reported, Pena participated in batting practice on Monday, which is crucial for a player who is recovering from a finger injury.

The Astros will continue to provide updates on Pena's injury status as they are available. For now, it remains to be seen if Jeremy Pena will end up playing on Opening Day. The Astros' first game of the regular season is scheduled for 4:10 PM EST in Houston on Thursday night.