Ariel Pena

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #27 prospect in 2016
  Pena has kicked around the organization since July 2012 when he joined the Brewers in the trade that sent Zack Greinke to the Angels. He finally reached the big leagues in September 2015. Milwaukee has had trouble deciding if Pena's future is in the rotation or bullpen. He threw well in relief during spring training 2015, so the Brewers dispatched him to Triple-A Colorado Springs in that role. Partly out of desperation, the Brewers moved him to the rotation and he began to dominate. Always possessing a big arm but finding command fleeting, Pena threw more strikes and continued to throw just as hard. He pitched at 92 mph and hit 94 while working as a starter. When Pena is in control of his mechanics and delivery, hitters have a difficult time catching up to his fastball. He also throws a hard, late-breaking slider but struggles to take velocity off the ball to keep hitters honest. With his power arm and limited repertoire, Pena continues to profile as a reliever, and at age 27 in 2016 it's high time to settle on a role.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #28 prospect in 2015
  The Brewers acquired Pena from the Angels in July 2012 as part of the Zack Greinke trade that also netted shortstop Jean Segura. Milwaukee knew Pena had a strong arm but was prone to command issues. When he throws strikes, hitters have a difficult time putting the ball in play with authority. He throws his fastball past hitters in the 92-96 mph range with good sink, and he can reach 98 with his four-seamer. He also throws a hard, late-breaking slider but still needs work on a changeup that he overthrows. He has been unable to lower a walk rate that also raises his pitch counts. Despite a revamped delivery, Pena struggles with his mechanics and release point. The Brewers have kept Pena in the rotation at Triple-A Nashville to try to help him improve his control through repetition, but that hasn't happened yet, so he faces a likely move to the bullpen. With his power arm and strikeout ability, Pena could profile as a late-inning reliever with better control. Out of minor league options, he could make the big league bullpen in 2015.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #15 prospect in 2014
  The Brewers have a lot of hard-throwers in their system who have command issues and Pena is one of them. Acquired with shortstop Jean Segura and righthander Johnny Hellweg from the Angels in the Zack Greinke trade in late-July 2012, Pena has the ability to throw the ball by hitters. He throws his sinker in the 92-94 mph range and can reach 98 with his four-seamer. He also throws a hard, late-breaking slider at 82-86 mph, but he overthrows his changeup at times and that has not been an overly effective pitch for him. Much like Hellweg, Pena gets himself in trouble by not throwing strikes, resulting in a walk rate of 5.0 per nine innings at Double-A Huntsville in 2013. He struggles at times with his mechanics and long arm action, and loses his release point, but he can escape trouble via strikeout, as attested by his 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The Brewers have used Pena strictly as a starter to allow him to work on his command and accumulate innings, but if he doesn't harness his control soon, he'll move to the bullpen. He could be dominant in that role with his fastball-heavy approach. Pena likely will move to Triple-A Nashville in 2014, where he may move to the bullpen if he stumbles.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #22 prospect in 2013
  Pena's performance after his acquisition from the Angels in the Zack Greinke trade last July wasn't what the Brewers had in mind. They knew he was rough around the edges, as evidenced by his Futures Game turn just before the deal. Pena hit 94-95 mph in the prospect all-star game but fooled no one, giving up eight runs on seven hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly. He wasn't the same afterward, making just three quality starts the rest of the year as his control and command disintegrated. Velocity isn't an issue. Pena pitches regularly at 92-94 mph with his sinker and can reach 98 with his four-seamer. He throws a hard slider that breaks late and sits at 82-86 mph. His 85-88 mph changeup is too firm and mostly just a show-me pitch. Though he has good size and obvious arm strength, Pena is so erratic with his command that many scouts figure he'll have to pitch in relief. He loses his mechanics too easily and often drags his arm behind his body, leaving pitches up in the strike zone. His problems persisted in a short winter ball stint in the Dominican Republic. Pena will try to make a better impression on his new organization when he returns to Double-A this year.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #9 prospect in 2012
  Signed as a 17-year-old, Pena spent three years in Rookie ball and has pitched just four innings above Class A in five pro seasons. After he ranked second in the high Class A California League with 180 strikeouts last year, he earned a place on the Angels' 40-man roster in November. Pena always has shown plus velocity on his fastball and slider, but his shaky command has held him back. He sits at 92-94 mph with his sinker and touches 98 with his four-seamer, showing explosive life when he stays on top of the ball. He throws a hard, late slider at 82-86 mph, getting both called strikes and swings and misses. He flashes a fringy changeup in the low 80s but lacks consistent feel for it. Though he's big and durable, Pena's delivery features enough effort to prompt some scouts to project him as a reliever. He leaves too many pitches up and to his arm side. He jabs at the back of his arm stroke and often loses balance in his delivery, causing his arm to rush to catch up with the rest of his body. Pena can be nearly unhittable when his fastball and slider are working, but he'll have to cut his walk rate (5.3 per nine innings in full-season leagues) to remain a starter. He'll begin 2012 in Double-A.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed as a 17-year-old, Pena spent three years in Rookie ball and has pitched just four innings above Class A in five pro seasons. After he ranked second in the high Class A California League with 180 strikeouts last year, he earned a place on the Angels' 40-man roster in November. Scouting Report: Pena always has shown plus velocity on his fastball and slider, but his shaky command has held him back. He sits at 92-94 mph with his sinker and touches 98 with his four-seamer, showing explosive life when he stays on top of the ball. He throws a hard, late slider at 82-86 mph, getting both called strikes and swings and misses. He flashes a fringy changeup in the low 80s but lacks consistent feel for it. Though he's big and durable, Pena's delivery features enough effort to prompt some scouts to project him as a reliever. He leaves too many pitches up and to his arm side, while he also jabs at the back of his arm stroke and often loses balance in his delivery, causing his arm to rush to catch up with the rest of his body. The Future: Pena can be nearly unhittable when his fastball and slider are working, but he'll have to cut his walk rate (5.3 per nine innings in full-season leagues) to stay in the rotation. He'll begin 2012 in Double-A.