Mets make aggressive move with $5 million phenom

The New York Mets are challenging one of their youngest and best prospects.

Multiple reports, including from Wilber Sanchez, have shared that Elian Pena is heading to Single-A to begin the season.

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

The move is significant because Pena has never played stateside before, and the Mets are having him skip 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.

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

The guys who rank highly on prospect lists every year that were once international signings are the ones who progress faster than expected.

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 process. Along the way, they shone even while playing against players much older than them.

It's a recipe for success, if done right, and that's the challenge the Mets are now placing in front of Pena. It'll be up to him to deliver and keep on climbing the ladder toward the major leagues.

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