Houston Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena capped off a dominant postseason by being named World Series MVP.
Pena was a force for Houston during its six-game triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit .400/.423/.600 with one homer, three RBIs, five runs scored, and a series-high 10 hits. He also contributed sparkling defense at shortstop.
The 25-year-old is the youngest position player to win this honor, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Pena, who also won ALCS MVP honors, is the ninth player to earn both postseason MVP trophies and the first to do so for an American League team. He also joins the Florida Marlins’ Livan Hernandez in 1997 as the only rookies to claim both LCS and World Series MVP honors.
Pena is the third rookie player and first position player to win World Series MVP, following Hernandez and Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Larry Sherry in 1959. He’s also the seventh shortstop to win the award.
Over 13 playoff games across three rounds, Pena hit a cumulative .345/.367/.638 with four homers and eight RBIs. His playoff run featured several dramatic moments, including an ALDS-winning homer in the 18th inning against the Seattle Mariners and a sixth-inning single Saturday that set the stage for Yordan Alvarez‘s series-winning homer.