Mets' 18-year old phenom given special honor

Elian Pena is a name that New York Mets fans should start to learn.

He could be the next big thing.

He's making his debut with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets on Thursday, and he's in the leadoff spot and playing shortstop. Not bad for a kid who's still just 18.

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Pena signed a $5 million bonus with the Mets in last year's international signing class, a team record.

The fact that he's at Single-A at all is significant, because he hasn't yet played stateside. He skipped right over the Florida Complex League.

He played in the Dominican Summer League after signing and was a monster there. He hit .292 with a .949 OPS, including nine home runs and 13 doubles. He also drove in 33 runs, scored 47 and swiped 21 stolen bases.

For Pena, this is the exact kind of path players take to becoming some of the top prospects in the sports.

Just in the top-10 this year are shortstops Jesus Made (Brewers) and Leo De Vries (Athletics) who both leapfrogged levels and moved faster than your average prospects. Along the way, they shone even while playing against players much older than them.

Pena will be hoping to do that, too.

He's a shortstop right now, and it's a long time until the Mets have to decide whether that's his long-term position.

For now, they'll just hope he's ready to handle the leadoff spot and the most flashy defensive position at a level with mostly older players.

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