With Jeremy Peña out, Geraldo Perdomo immediately fills in at shortstop. Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Images
March 5, 2026Updated 3:22 pm EST
On a roster filled to the brim with All-Stars, MVP candidates and a Cy Young Award winner, the Dominican Republic will have to make it through pool play in the World Baseball Classic with one less star.
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña fractured the tip of his right ring finger fielding a ground ball during an exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday. Peña visited a hand specialist on Thursday in West Palm Beach, after which the Astros announced his diagnosis. The team said Peña will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Peña, a first-time All-Star in 2025, paced the Astros with 5.6 bWAR last season, and was expected to be a major part of a D.R. roster that has not returned to the WBC finals since winning the championship in 2013. Peña is the only prominent Astros position player participating in the World Baseball Classic after Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve were denied insurance coverage to play for their respective countries.
In Peña’s place, Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, who finished fourth in NL MVP balloting, will take over at shortstop for Team Dominican Republic. Amed Rosario, another capable infielder, can also fill in on the fly.
Situated in Pool D, alongside Venezuela, the Netherlands, Nicaragua and Israel, the Dominican Republic will open play on Saturday against Dusty Baker and his Nicaraguan squad.
Peña sustained the injury 22 days before Opening Day, putting his status for Houston’s season-opening roster in serious jeopardy. Any potential absence from Peña would thrust Isaac Paredes into a more prominent role — and perhaps remove him from any ongoing trade discussions. Houston has shopped Paredes throughout the offseason in hopes of obtaining a left-handed hitting outfielder in exchange for an infielder without any direct path to everyday playing time.
Without Peña, though, Paredes could reprise his role as the team’s third baseman while Carlos Correa shifts back to shortstop. Paredes can play shortstop, too, but Correa is more familiar with the position and a better defender.
Mar 5, 2026
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