Photo: Matt Young / Houston Chronicle (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña is entering 2026 with plenty to celebrate, and one ambitious goal that might make his manager a little nervous.
An Engaged All-Star
The 28-year-old Dominican shortstop proposed to Canadian soccer star Julia Grosso in December during a romantic getaway to St. Lucia. Grosso, a midfielder for the Chicago Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League and a member of the Canadian national team, said yes.
The two were introduced by friends about a year ago and have been together ever since, navigating a long-distance relationship thanks to overlapping baseball and soccer seasons.
Peña has fully embraced his role as a supportive fiancé. Last November, he attended a Chicago Stars match wearing Grosso’s No. 7 jersey, and in December he traveled to Japan to watch her compete.
Seeing sports from the stands has given him a new appreciation for fans. He joked about eating stadium food, critiquing plays, and enjoying the game from a completely different perspective than the one he’s used to on the field.
Chasing 162
While wedding plans are on the horizon, Peña has also set a bold goal for the upcoming season: playing in all 162 games.
No Astros player has accomplished that feat since George Springer in 2016.
Manager Joe Espada is already aware of the goal, though he’s hinted he might prefer to build in a few rest days to keep his shortstop healthy over the long haul.
For Peña, durability is a point of pride. Being in the lineup every day is something he wants to prove he can do.
Motivated by 2025 Injuries
That goal carries extra meaning after a frustrating 2025 campaign that was interrupted by injuries. Peña was limited to 125 games after suffering a fractured rib that sidelined him for all of July—including his first All-Star Game appearance—and later a strained oblique that ended his season early.
Those absences played a role in Houston missing the postseason by a single game, ending the club’s run of eight straight playoff appearances.
When he was on the field, though, Peña delivered the best season of his career. He earned team MVP honors while hitting .304 with a .363 on-base percentage, 17 home runs, 62 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases, primarily out of the leadoff spot.
Still Fine-Tuning
Despite the breakout year, Peña isn’t standing still.
He spent the offseason continuing to work on his swing, focusing on consistency and repeatability over the course of a full season. His batting stance adjustments from two years ago drew plenty of attention, and he’s still refining his mechanics.
For Peña, improvement is a year-round process, whether it’s at the plate or in the field.
World Baseball Classic Bound
Peña won’t spend all of spring training in Florida. At the end of February, he’ll head to Miami to join Team Dominican Republic for the World Baseball Classic.
Representing his heritage on the international stage is something he’s dreamed about since childhood. Though he grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, Peña has always maintained strong ties to his Dominican roots.
He’s expected to be the only Astros All-Star participating, as Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are not playing due to insurance complications tied to their contracts.
A New Name—and a Jersey Number
When Grosso becomes Julia Peña after the wedding, the Astros shortstop already has one playful request: he wants her to switch to No. 3 so they can both be known as “JP3.”
Until then, he plans to keep showing up as her biggest fan, supporting her career from the stands whenever their schedules allow.
Between a wedding on the calendar, a World Baseball Classic appearance, and a personal quest to play all 162 games, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most memorable years of Peña’s life, and a pivotal one for an Astros team looking to bounce back after a rare October absence.