Former NECBL Products Shine in 2022 MLB Postseason
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Former New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) product Jeremy Peña (2016 Plymouth Pilgrims) was named the 2022 American League Championship Series MVP Sunday night after his outstanding performances for the Houston Astros. Additionally, NECBL alum Nick Martinez (2009-10 Vermont Mountaineers) played a key part in the San Diego Padres bullpen during their postseason journey.
Peña, a rookie for Houston, proved to be an integral piece of the Astros’ lineup during their run to the World Series. In Houston’s four-game sweep over the New York Yankees, the shortstop earned ALCS MVP by batting .353 with two home runs, four RBI, three runs and two doubles in just eighteen plate appearances. Peña hit his first homer of the ALCS and had three hits in Game 1, padding a 4-2 Astros victory. In Houston’s series-clinching Game 4 win, the former Pilgrim hit a three-run bomb to tie the game at three apiece. All four of Peña’s ALCS RBI came from the long ball.
Over the course of both playoff series that Peña has participated in thus far, the Dominican Republic native and University of Maine alum hit .303 with three homers and five RBI. Peña hit the decisive solo homer in the eighteenth inning of the Astros’ ALDS clinching game against the Seattle Mariners. Peña and Houston face the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2022 MLB World Series, beginning Friday, October 28th.
In his year with the Plymouth Pilgrims, who are no longer a member of the NECBL, Peña had four homers, thirteen RBI and eighteen runs in thirty-five games.
San Diego Padres righty Nick Martinez also helped his team push deep into the postseason. Martinez, a member of the Vermont Mountaineers during the 2009 and 2010 NECBL seasons, appeared in all three of San Diego’s playoff matchups. Over seven appearances, Martinez threw eleven innings, gave up just three hits, one run and struck out eleven opponents. The Miami native and Fordham alum ended with a 0.82 ERA in the playoffs. Martinez pitched a postseason-long three innings in Game 4 of the NLCS, giving up no hits and punching out three. Martinez and San Diego made it to the National League Championship Series before falling to the Phillies in five games.
Martinez appeared in two NECBL seasons with the Mountaineers. In his latter year, he appeared solely as a position player. Martinez batted .278 with thirteen RBI and six doubles in thirty-nine games.
The NECBL congratulates its alumni and wishes them nothing but the best for the future and the rest of the MLB postseason.
