Mets prospect Elian Peña doubles, reaches three times in strong stateside debut

The Mets were aggressive with their placement of Elian Peña this season, elevating him to Low-A to begin the year. Peña enjoyed a strong spring after his stellar debut in the Dominican Summer League, and now he’s one of the youngest players at his new level at just 18. That proved to be no problem on Thursday, as he started the season on a high note.

The young slugger was thrown right into the fire, batting leadoff for St. Lucie on Opening Day, and he made the most of the opportunity by reaching base three different times. Peña showed off his patience, leading off the game with a four-pitch walk.

He lined out to left in his second at-bat but was able to do some damage his next time up, lacing a double that short hopped the wall in right for his first hit of the season. The young slugger then ended his night with a single in the top of the ninth, giving him two hits and a walk in St. Lucie’s 6-3 season-opening loss.

The Mets certainly hope this is a sign of things to come from Peña this season. As SNY’s Joe DeMayo pointed out in his recent mailbag , it wouldn’t be a shock to see him on top 100 prospects lists and competing for the system’s top spot by the end of the season. Peña, the No.