Why Houston Astros rookie Jeremy Peña makes heart sign after big plays

Baseball fans who have been wondering why Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña makes a heart sign with his hands after big-time plays finally received an answer after Wednesday’s 4-2 Game 1 win over the New York Yankees.

The star rookie spoke with TBS reporter Lauren Shehadi shortly after Houston’s victory at Minute Maid Park to open this season’s American League Championship Series. When asked what the gesture means, Peña had a simple response.

“It’s for my mom,” he said.

The most recent instance of Peña breaking out the heart sign came after his second home run in as many postseason games. With the Astros leading 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, he sent a 386-foot solo blast to left to extend the lead to three runs.

Peña had some significant shoes to fill in his first season in the big leagues, as he took over for two-time All-Star and 2017 World Series champion Carlos Correa, but rarely has the moment seemed too large for him. His 2.4 defensive wins above replacement was a team-high during the regular season, as he also recorded 22 home runs, 20 doubles, two triples, 63 RBI, 72 runs scored while posting a .426 slugging percentage.

Peña has already delivered a few memorable moments in his first postseason, one of which came in the series-clinching Game 3 of the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners. The shortstop hit a solo home run in the top of the 18th inning to lift the Astros to a 1-0 victory. Four games into the 2022 playoffs, he’s batting 7-for-20 with five extra-base hits, five runs and two RBI.