Could Mets’ Elian Peña Be the Next Big MLB Sensation in 2026?

So, here’s the scoop that’s got the Mets faithful buzzing: Elian Peña, the hotshot prospect who snagged a franchise-record $5 million deal last January, just earned a spot on the Domestic Reserve List. Yeah, that’s right—the kid’s gearing up to make his debut on American soil in 2026, and trust me, it’s something worth watching. At just 18, Peña’s already shown he’s no ordinary rookie. Sure, he stumbled hard at the start—a nasty 0-for-26 slump—but then he flipped the script, finishing strong with a .292 batting average, a .949 OPS, plenty of extra-base hits, and an almost flawless stolen base record. The buzz isn’t just about numbers; folks like SNY’s Joe DeMayo rank him as the Mets’ ninth-best prospect but whisper that Peña might actually have the highest ceiling in the entire system. Scouts liken his bat-to-ball skills and power potential to none other than Rafael Devers, which alone should make any baseball fan’s pulse quicken. If Peña stays on this trajectory, don’t be stunned if he rockets up every prospect chart out there. LEARN MORE

The Mets announced on their Player Development X account on Monday that top prospect Elian Peña has been added to the Domestic Reserve List.

Peña is officially in line to make his stateside debut during the 2026 season.

The 18-year-old infielder signed with the Mets for a franchise-record $5 million last January.

He started his career in a brutal 0-for-26 stretch, but finally was able to find his footing and finished the season hitting a strong .292 with 24 extra base-hits and a .949 OPS over 55 DSL games.

Peña also stole 21 bases in 25 attempts and had as many walks as strikeouts (36).

SNY’s Joe DeMayo has him as the Mets’ No. 9 prospect, but feels he may have the highest upside in the system.

DeMayo writes: “From a tools standpoint, Peña possesses strong bat-to-ball skills with a compact, quick swing and an advanced knowledge of the zone. This dates to prior to him turning pro at either showcases or in BP, where he would refuse to swing at pitches he deemed outside the zone as not to make a habit out of it.

“From a power perspective, scouts project him to be above-average with a chance for more as he physically matures. There have been public comparisons to multi-time All-Star Rafael Devers.”

It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Peña skyrocket up prospect rankings with a successful season.