Here’s Why Luis Pena Should Also Be Considered Untouchable

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It’s not an exaggeration to say that Milwaukee has a lot of talent on the left side of the infield across the organization. In addition to Cooper Pratt, Brice Turang, Joey Ortiz, and David Hamilton at the major league level, there are multiple Top 100 prospects who could slot in there as well.

One of those prospects, Jesus Made, is rightly considered to be untouchable in trade talks. However, with Jett Williams apparently close to MLB-ready, Luis Pena is seen as a potential trade chip and was reportedly the centerpiece in the Brewers’ offer for Tarik Skubal. But the crowded infield doesn’t mean there isn’t a role for Pena with the Brewers – in fact, recent history suggests that the Brewers may be better served by making him as untouchable as Made.

The Current Brewers Infield

Right now, the Brewers have Brice Turang at second, Cooper Pratt at shortstop, and a platoon of David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz at third. This isn’t a bad setup at all, and if anything, their defense helps as much as their solid offense since June 1.

While Turang has increased his power each year in the majors, Pratt, Ortiz, and Hamilton don’t quite scare pitchers (although none are easy outs, either). Well, Pratt could be crossing into the "scary" territory with his numbers since July 1.

First base will be interesting, as Jake Bauers is a potential free agent and Andrew Vaughn will be in his last year of arbitration, but that is a subject for another article.

Recent History

In 2024 and 2025, the Brewers have found themselves set off track by injuries (losing Christian Yelich for most of 2024) and fatigue (players just wearing out by the NLCS). The real question has been maintaining depth with the slots on the bench and the spots at Triple-A Nashville.

The good news is that the Brewers have talent; it’s just a question of figuring out how to make it all fit. The thing is, the very players that some considered dealing to rent Skubal for three months could probably make the Brewers far better over the next decade, and Luis Pena is Exhibit A in this.

Pena’s Profile and Potential Role

Pena is a right-handed hitter who is flashing more power to go with speed and solid bat-to-ball skills. He’s got more swing-and-miss in his profile than Made, but there is clearly some real athleticism. Questions remain about his long-term defensive home, mostly due to his inconsistency on the infield. Could he end up in the outfield? We don’t quite know just yet, although Pena not being “locked in” might make him more valuable to the Brewers.

Let’s fast-forward to 2028 spring training. Turang will likely be at second, with Pratt at shortstop and Made at third. Jett Williams would be one option off the bench, covering not just third base, but also second base, shortstop, and the outfield.

Assuming the 2028 infield is Made, Pratt, Turang, and Blake Burns manning first base. Let’s further assume the outfield is Josh Adamczewski in left, Luis Lara in center, and Jackson Chourio in right, with Jeferson Quero and Bo Naylor splitting time behind the plate. Yelich is in his last year as DH.

Assume the Brewers have four bench spots. One will be taken by whichever of Quero and Naylor is not starting. Assume Jett Williams has another. Figure the Brewers will have an outfielder (Sal Frelick, perhaps?) on the bench as well. In this case, the Brewers may be well-served to put Pena on the bench.

Pena can similarly slot in, either right next to Williams, or even as a replacement (recall that the Brewers moved Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins over the offseason and got potentially valuable returns for the former) or as a replacement, say alongside Luke Adams, with Andrew Fischer knocking at the door.

Comps From The Past

If the idea of Pena moving all over while still providing almost-elite offense seems familiar, it’s happened before. The Chicago Cubs used Javier Baez at multiple positions (second base, third base, shortstop, first base, left field, and right field) in their World Championship season of 2016 and their run to the NLCS in 2017.

Around that same timeframe, the Brewers had Hernan Perez, who was less potent offensively, but who played every position but catcher from 2016-2019. Luis Pena could be the best of both players for the Brewers – not just a potent offensive threat, but one who allows the other players on the team to stay fresh.

The Brewers farm system is reaching a point where the organization will have to consider how they will lose some of their prospects – but when it comes to a talent like Pena, the team may want to think of keeping him around, even without a single defensive “home.”

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