Brewers’ Jesus Made And Luis Peña Are Closely Linked On The Field And Off

High-A Wisconsin shortstop Jesus Made and second baseman Luis Peña are the Brewers’ top two prospects currently playing in the minor leagues.

They’re also brothers in arms, two 18-year-olds from the Dominican Republic moving in lockstep up the organizational ladder.

After performing as expected at Low-A Carolina, Made and Peña were bumped up to the Midwest League in early August and quickly made their presence felt.

The duo made their Wisconsin debut in an Aug. 5 game at Peoria. Made tripled and drove in a run, while Peña homered. In their first home game on Aug. 12, Made doubled and scored a run, while Peña homered in his second at-bat and singled in two runs in his third.

“Really good first impression,” Wisconsin manager Victor Estevez said of the duo. “They add everything right now. They’re pretty good offensively, both guys are really good baserunners and also their defense in the middle is a plus for the team right now.”

Made, a switch-hitter from San Cristobal, and Peña, from El Limon, have known each other since they were 12 years old, Peña said, having met at a Brewers tryout.

Once signed—Made for $950,000 and Peña for $800,000—the pair first tore up the Dominican Summer League in 2024 before embarking on their first full-season experience in the Carolina League in April.

Made hit .267/.373/.388 with four home runs and 40 stolen bases in 83 games for Carolina. Peña hit .308/.375/.469 with six homers and 41 steals in 71 games.

Both players lean on one another for support.

“It’s helped a lot, both in Carolina and here,” Made said. “Luis is not just a friend but also a brother. We’re a good team together. We work together good on the field but also off the field. We talk a lot and advise each other.

“Very grateful.”

Said Peña: “Jesus is a great person. We’ve known each other since we were little in the D.R., and he’s always been my teammate. I’m grateful to have him here.”

Made and Peña were part of a defensive timeshare at Carolina, splitting time at shortstop, second base and third base. Estevez said that at Wisconsin, each will play three games per week at shortstop and two at second with a day off mixed in.

“It’s been very, very impressive,” Estevez said. “Watching those two guys come to the field and perform, it’s outstanding. For kids 18 years old, I’m very impressed with them right now.”

MICROBREWS

— Made and Peña welcomed another high-profile teammate on Aug. 14, when third baseman and 2025 first-round pick Andrew Fischer joined the Timber Rattlers.

Fischer had been onboarding at the Brewers’ Arizona complex after signing out of Tennessee for an under-slot deal of $3.5 million.

— The Brewers promoted first baseman Blake Burke to Double-A Biloxi after he hit .289/.380/.403 with five home runs in 95 games for High-A Wisconsin.