| IP | 22.1 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 2.01 |
| WHIP | 1.610 |
| BB/9 | 8.5 |
| SO/9 | 13.3 |
- Full name Francis Manuel Pena
- Born 01/25/2001 in Piedra Blanca, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: Unlike most international prospects who sign as teenagers, Peña signed for $10,000 a few days before his 21st birthday out of the Dominican Republic in 2022. He made his stateside debut in 2023 and put together a successful 2024 season that spanned three levels. Peña spent all of 2025 as a reliever with Triple-A El Paso, where he pitched to a modest 4.99 ERA with 47 strikeouts to 34 walks in 52.1 innings across 43 relief appearances.
Scouting Report: Despite being slightly undersized, Peña is high-waisted with some length in his lower half. He pitches exclusively out of the stretch and has an explosive, drop-and-drive delivery and a short arm stroke. He attacks from a three-quarters slot and a five-and-a-half foot release height. Peña’s power sinker/slider combination makes for an effective east-west profile. His sinker sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and has been up to 100 mph with both run and sink, but it plays up thanks to Peña’s outstanding extension of more than seven feet. His slider is more effective from a swing-and-miss standpoint and regularly flashes two-plane break. It garnered a miss rate greater than 30% and was most effective against lefthanded hitters. Peña showed the ability to get the pitch in and under their hands with a version of the pitch with shorter shape. Peña walked 14% of batters in 2025 as he contended with hitter-friendly conditions at El Paso and the ABS challenge strike zone.
The Future: Peña is a two-pitch reliever who has climbed efficiently through San Diego’s system and is on his way to making his major league debut in 2026.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: - | Slider: 55 | Changeup: - | Control: 45 -
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: Unlike other international prospects who sign in their teens, Peña signed with the Padres for just $10,000 a few days before his 21st birthday. He made his stateside debut in 2023 and worked a 2.34 ERA with 40 strikeouts to just 10 walks across 34.2 innings. Peña enjoyed similar success this season, as across three levels—High-A, Double-A and Triple-A—he pitched his way to a 2.43 ERA with 64 strikeouts to 10 walks in 63 innings.
Scouting Report: Though undersized, Peña has a lanky and high-waisted frame. He works exclusively out of the stretch and has an explosive delivery that has some drop-and-drive to it. Peña has big-time arm speed and attacks from a three-quarters slot out of a low release height. His fastball sits in the upper 90s and has been up to 98 with riding life through the zone. Peña’s best pitch is his low-90s cutter that flashes late glove-side life. It’s effective against both right and lefthanded hitters and he locates it well. The cutter ties up lefties, while it breaks away at the last second against righties. Last season, it held opposing hitters to a .167 average and generated a 36% miss rate. Peña completes his arsenal with a seldom-used power gyro slider in the upper 80s to low 90s.
The Future: Peña is a predominantly two-pitch reliever who has climbed efficiently through the Padres’ system and has late-inning upside. He is poised to start the 2025 season in Triple-A and could make his major league debut by season’s end.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Cutter: 60 | Control: 55.
Career Transactions
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RHP Francis Peña assigned to San Antonio Missions.
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San Diego Padres invited non-roster RHP Francis Pena to spring training.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to Leones del Escogido.
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El Paso Chihuahuas activated RHP Francis Pena from the 7-day injured list.
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El Paso Chihuahuas placed RHP Francis Pena on the 7-day injured list.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from ACL Padres.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to ACL Padres from El Paso Chihuahuas.
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San Diego Padres invited non-roster RHP Francis Pena to spring training.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from San Antonio Missions.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps.
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San Antonio Missions activated RHP Francis Pena.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to San Diego Padres.
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Peoria Javelinas activated RHP Francis Pena.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
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Lake Elsinore Storm activated RHP Francis Pena.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to ACL Padres.
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RHP Francis Pena assigned to DSL Padres.
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San Diego Padres signed free agent RHP Francis Pena to a minor league contract.