Brewers 2024 breakout prospect continues to impress scouts with his head-turning performance this season

The Milwaukee Brewers are quietly building one of the most dynamic farm systems in baseball — and it’s starting to make a ton of noise. Entering the 2025 season with the seventh-ranked system in the league, the Brewers have only strengthened their prospect pool thanks to a wave of breakout performances. Another eye-catching riser? Eighteen-year-old shortstop Luis Peña, who’s exploding onto the national scene with a blistering campaign for the Low-A Carolina Mudcats.

While flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski has drawn much attention with his recent call to the big leagues, Peña is quickly becoming another big name to watch in the farm. This week, he was the biggest riser in Baseball America’s updated June rankings — leaping a jaw-dropping 45 spots from No. 76 to No. 31 overall. In doing so, he joined fellow 18-year-old Jesús Made (No. 4) to give the Mudcats two top-31 prospects manning the middle infield. A rare flex for any Low-A club, let alone one in a small market system like Milwaukee's.

Luis Peña vaults into national spotlight with impressive start to 2025

But make no mistake — Peña’s performance isn’t hype. The attention is earned. Through 35 games, the Dominican-born infielder is slashing .319/.378/.522 with 5 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. Quite a jump in power from 2025, which saw him homer just once all year. The pop is coming, and the tools are already loud.

What’s especially impressive is Peña’s advanced approach at the plate. His elite bat-to-ball skills have kept his strikeout rate extremely low. Combine that with his blazing speed and ability to beat out infield hits, and it’s clear why scouts are raving about his hit tool.

Defensively, Peña has been deployed all over the infield, seeing time at shortstop, third base, and an occasional appearance at second. However, there’s growing belief that he could ultimately shift to third base thanks to his cannon of an arm. That would clear the path for Jesús Made to stay at short, giving the Brewers a dynamic left-side combo that could anchor their infield for years.

While he may not have all the spotlight in Milwaukee’s farm system, Peña is doing exactly what the best prospects do — dominate his level, show consistent growth, and force his way into the national conversation.