Jeremy Peña’s fractured finger has handed the Houston Astros an uncomfortable question with Opening Day just weeks away: Who plays shortstop if he cannot?
The good news is that Houston is not without answers. The bad news is that none is especially clean. Here are four realistic paths the Astros could consider if Peña’s absence stretches into the regular season.
Slide Correa Back to Short
Before there was Jeremy Peña, there was Carlos Correa at shortstop—and not just any shortstop. Correa is a former All-Star and Gold Glove winner at the position and spent nearly a decade as one of the best shortstops in baseball.
Moving him back to short and sliding Isaac Paredes or another infielder to third base is the most straightforward contingency available. Manager Joe Espada would not be asking Correa to do anything he has not done at an elite level before.
The wrinkle is that Correa has settled comfortably into third base in recent seasons, and at 31 the Astros may prefer to keep him there. If Peña’s injury proves short-term, though, a temporary return to shortstop would hardly be unusual. Nick Allen, who is out of minor league options and has already impressed defensively in camp, could help absorb the utility innings that shuffle creates.
Accelerate Brice Matthews
The most intriguing option may also be the most aggressive. Brice Matthews, Houston’s top prospect entering the spring according to MLB Pipeline, has been taking reps at multiple positions in camp, including second base and center field.
He is athletic enough to handle shortstop in a pinch, and the Astros have been looking for ways to get his bat into the lineup.
The question is whether accelerating that timeline serves anyone well. Matthews is 23 and has not played above Double-A. Asking him to step into an everyday shortstop role on an Opening Day roster because the starter fractured a finger in a World Baseball Classic exhibition is not the developmental path most teams would draw up.
Still, if the Astros believe Matthews is close and the injury lingers, the conversation could change quickly. A strong finish to spring training would only add to that discussion.
Rethink the Paredes Trade
For months, the Astros have explored the possibility of moving Isaac Paredes. The infield logjam made him expendable—or so it seemed.
With Peña now nursing a fractured finger, that calculus changes.
Paredes is a legitimate everyday infielder who slashed .271/.358/.462 with 24 home runs in 2024 before a hamstring injury disrupted much of his 2025 season. He can play third base, second base, and first base, and his bat gives Houston a legitimate lineup contributor rather than simply a defensive placeholder.
If Peña misses significant time, the Astros may be grateful they did not finalize a Paredes deal. And if trade discussions were progressing, general manager Dana Brown may prefer to pause them until Peña’s timeline becomes clearer.
Shay Whitcomb as a Bridge
Less flashy but potentially useful, Shay Whitcomb has been in big-league camp this spring and offers genuine infield versatility.
The 26-year-old can handle shortstop, second base, and third base, and he has shown flashes of offensive production in the upper minors. Whitcomb is not viewed as a long-term solution at shortstop, but he could serve as a practical bridge while Peña recovers or while Matthews continues developing.
Sometimes the most valuable roster piece is the one who quietly fills a gap without forcing larger decisions.
The Bottom Line
None of these options fully replaces what Peña brings when healthy. He is the club’s primary shortstop, a key piece at the top of the lineup, the 2022 World Series MVP, and one of the American League’s most well-rounded players.
The Astros built their 2026 plans around having him there every night.
Still, Houston has navigated infield uncertainty before, and the organization has enough depth to manage a short-term absence. How long Peña is sidelined will determine which path the Astros ultimately take and how quickly they need to decide.
For now, the next step is Peña’s MRI. After that, the Astros will have a clearer picture of what comes next.