Is Elian Peña The Future of the Mets?! | FULL INTERVIEW

Is Elian Peña The Future of the Mets?! | FULL INTERVIEW

Early when you signed, one of the players we heard you compare to was Raphael Deers. I’m more interested to hear who you would compare yourself to. Raphael. Yeah, Raphael Devers is a great player in this game, but I think that in time I can pass Raphael Devers. Um, I don’t compare myself to anybody else. I am who I am. So, at the end of the day, um, yeah, Raphael de is a great player, but but I have to focus on being myself. Welcome to Meet the Apple presented by PC Richardson. I’m Veto Kesi. This is Jonathan Baron. And John, we got a special episode for the Peoples today. We do. Today’s a special day here at City Field. The Mets are giving their player development awards. And last year, we had a chance to sit in this very room with Brandon Sprrot, who is already making a contribution at the major league level, and Nick Morabido, who we are excited to see making a contribution at the major league level pretty soon after another great season for Nick. But today, we are chatting with a couple younger guys. We had a chance to catch up with Elon Pñena, the DSL position player of the year winner, and Osiris Osiris Cal Oh, I’ll just I’ll just pick it up. And Osiris Calvo, uh, the pitcher of the year. So, just two really exciting guys. And before we talk a little more, I do want to take a second to remind everybody, guys, if you’re listening to this podcast, we really appreciate it when you like, subscribe, give us a fivestar review. Seriously, it goes such a long way for help us grow the show, help us give you more content. So, if you have a chance, you know, you could do it while you’re listening. You could just go over before these interviews start, leave a review, give us five stars, and it helps us out a lot. But yeah, John, I mean, like you said, Brandon Spro up here already, Nick Morbidito making a big impact into the uh Bingmpington Rumble ponies playoff push. We’re recording this before game two, so we don’t know the outcome of that yet, but big shout out to the Cyclones who just won a uh their championship last night, which I mean, it shows you. We talked about this on future of flushing, the trickle up theory in full effect and we’re really starting to see it pay off. Yeah, this organization is flushed with talent and the Mets have been graduating a lot of that talent. Nolan Mlan, Brandon Sprro, Jonah Tongal, the Mets starting rotation right now. A number of guys AAA that before you know it will be helping the Mets win. Guys like Jet Williams, Carson Bench, DoubleA featuring guys like AJ Ewing and Jacob Rhymer. These are all guys that any any organization could be a player of the year for the Mets this year. There were so many deserving candidates. Of course, the Mets have one position player of the year overall, one pitcher of the year. So, those winners being Jonaton, Carson Benge. But like you said, the trickle up effect. There are guys at each and every level to be excited about that will be making an impact. These two youngsters before you know it will be state side. We’ll be talking about them more and more. There will be more coverage of these guys. And today, it was really neat to get a chance to chat with them. So, Avita, I think we should toss the interviews. Yeah. Well, why don’t we start off first one? Here’s an interview we did with Ellen Pñena. Welcome to Meet at the Apple presented by PC Richard and Son. I’m Veto Khesi. That’s Jonathan Baron. And today with us is the Mets 2025 player of the year from the Dominican Academy from the Dominican League that um the Mets are really proud to have here today. And Ellen, just first off, what’s it like to be here today at City Field? Yeah. So, to start, I’m I’m very happy. Um first and foremost, I want to give thanks to God um for this opportunity. Um, but but so far I I’ve really enjoyed my time here in New York being my my first time, but it’s also going to be my first of many times that I’m going to be here in New York. Well, we love to hear that. And we were all excited to hear the news that you were signing with the Mets, and you’re a very uh highly soughtafter prospect. A lot of teams were interested in signing you, but you chose the Mets. And I’m wondering what it was about the New York Mets that made you want to become member of the organization. The treatment of just the organization was what stood out to me. This is an organization that’s in the top of the class from top to bottom. This is the type of organization that that rides with their players and and continues to support their players whether it’s whether they’re good or good or bad. Maybe there are other organizations that may give up on a player, but this isn’t the type of organization that does that. This is the the type of team that uh continues to look out for for their players and it’s just going to continue to do that through the good and bad times. early when you signed, one of the players we heard you compare to was Raphael Deers, but I’m more interested to hear who you would compare yourself to. Yeah, Raphael Devers is a great player in this game, but I think that in time I can pass Raphael Devers. Um, I don’t compare myself to anybody else. I am who I am. So, at the end of the day, um, yeah, Rafael De is a great player, but but I have to focus on being myself. Now, you showed your full abilities. is you had a bit of a slow start when the when the season began and then you turned it on. You finished with an OPS above 900 and you had not one but two games with three home runs hit. So, what helped the turnaround and which of your three homer games did you enjoy more, your first three homer game or your second three homer game? Both games meant a lot to me. Um, I think they were good for my career for good good for my growth. But I think what what turned my my season around was the discipline, the the hard work and the perseverance that I I didn’t give up in those bad moments that I kept my head high and I just continued to fight and I think that was the biggest difference for me to turn my season around. Do you think you learned anything about yourself with that early struggle? Because like you’re young, you’re probably somebody who in on the baseball field that was maybe some of the first struggle you’d faced, but just in that adversity being able to get to the other side and just go off like that. I I learned I learned a lot about myself, especially in a moment like that. Um, and I and I learned that that that I’m not going to give up. That no matter what no matter how hard the times is going to be, I’m not going to give up. I’m never going to give up on myself. I’m going to continue to work and I’m going to continue to do everything that I need to do. During those moments, I still went to the gym. I still hit my head was held high and I and I said, “It doesn’t matter what happens that to tomorrow’s another day.” Um, so tomorrow can be a better day. So that that’s kind of the way that I was able to put into perspective um each and every day. Well, that’s definitely the mentality you have to have playing this game. Um and a lot of guys of course have things that they do away from the field that helps keep them leveled. It can’t all be about baseball. You got to have things that you enjoy. So what does Pena like to do away from baseball? What What are some of your hobbies and interests? Yeah, I I play a lot of PlayStation off the field. So, I play a lot of GTA, Fortnite, uh, NBA. Yeah. So, I I play a lot of that, but I also spend a lot of time with my family because I I do think that’s that’s the most beautiful and precious time that you can get is is is being around your family. I heard from somebody uh Rosario told me that your favorite baseball player growing up was Carlos Gonzalez. I just wanted to know like where that came from, what you see in him, and like the story behind that. Well, no. So, I I kind of I fel So, what happened was I I ended up falling in love with his swing. So, I saw I would see it on YouTube, on TikTok, um on Facebook, on every just everywhere. It was it was just such a pretty swing, but it was it was such a impactful swing. So, I I think that’s kind of what what stood out to me from him. Carlos Gonzalez was a great player back in 2015. Um, Mets fans are hoping that you could one day make that kind of impact that a Carlos Gonzalez made. And when you started your career in DSL, a lot of Mets fans in New York were were keyed into what you were doing. How cool is it knowing that at such a young age, so many fans were already paying attention to you and excited about what the future might bring for yourself. Good to have to have that support from the fans. Um, from from just the beginning, even in moments where where I wasn’t having the success that I wanted, I was I was I was a little bit frustrated. I would go to my room and I and I would be frustrated and I would and I would be sad about it. But the fans always supported me and especially when I started playing well. Um that’s really when when they started showing out. But yeah, like when I was by myself in that room, I was I I was feeling a little bit down. But when I would leave and I would and and I I would go out into the public, I I would always have my head held high. But um but no, I’m very thankful for the fans for supporting me from the very beginning. a positive moment when you signed that contract your first pro deal. What was it like and what was the first thing you just treated yourself with? Yeah. So, for me personally, um when I when I first signed, um I bought myself a pair of sneakers that I wanted. Um yeah, just just a pair of sneakers that I liked. But after that, I I I just focused on the season um and tried to do my best during the season. Um and after the season ended, I got my mom an SUV and I bought her a house. The next step for you is coming states side after your first season in DSL. So what is what are your thoughts on the challenge of coming states side when that when that opportunity does come about for you? Yeah, I don’t think there will be any challenges or any difficulties in coming to the States. At this point, I I’ve already played my first season and I know the type of ball player that I am. I know who I am as a person, so I know the necessary adjustments that I need to make as a player, but I don’t think there will be necessarily any challenges. And what are the big things you’re going to be working on in the offse? Yeah, I think the most important part is is to work on on just my body and my physical. Um, going into the gym a lot, trying to get a lot stronger. Um, we we already started that, but um but yeah, I think that’s that’s been the most important area to to to continue to improve on. physical and you’re still very young, but what are some things that the Mets have done to help you when it comes to strength training and refining your game, your swing defensively and all aspects and and also off the field as as a as a person that’s becoming a man? How have the Mets helped you? Mets is just especially in the academy, they’re just world class. From the education is 1A, the nutrition, the strength training, everything that you need, the the Mets have it. I I I can’t speak for any other organization, but but I know that that the Mets, they take care of you. They take an interest in specifically and and and they get to know you. They really get to know you. So, I think from from top to bottom, the Mets to have a world class organization. Uh well, Elliot, thank you so much for taking the time with you and uh we’re really happy to meet you and looking forward to seeing you stateside very soon. really cool to meet Elliot after we sat in this room talking to Rosario Chiovaro, the uh director of international scouting and him ex describing Elliot to us and us reading about him and then meeting him in person and seeing just what a confident kid he is. Yeah. I mean, you know, you think about the timeline, right? uh January 15th, International Free Agency signing day, and you see videos and you hear about this kid, and then the season starts and he struggles, and then you look up and he’s OPSing over 900, and he has not one but two, three homer games, and he’s walking as much as he’s striking out. And it’s very tough, especially in that league, to put up the kind of numbers that Elellon Pñena did. Uh and to have him in this room, to have him here at City Field is is really cool. And you know, he’s he talks a lot about the nutrition and strength training and all the Mets have done to help him grow to this point. And once the Mets player development staff gets their hands on him over here in the States, uh, you know, this kid has all the makings of the star that the Mets thought they were investing in and first year couldn’t have returned better results. So, so excited about Elon Pñena and so many of the other prospects that are currently uh percolating in the Mets player development system. Percolating. Well, I I love percolation because I love a mocha pot. That’s how I make my espresso. But we’re going to go into our second interview of the day. Osiris Calvo, uh, interesting kid, interesting story. Um, battled back from injury, missing pretty much all of 2024 to go on this year to dominate then win pitcher of the year in the organization. And a surprise to us, um, asked if he could do the interview in English. and you’ll see just always impressed when a guy especially like a young guy not only is able to do that but like wants to do that and asks to do that because it just shows you one um the kind of help and the effect that the Mets organization has helping guys because the Dominican Academy um one of the big things they do is these guys get their degrees and they also get a lot of English lessons. Yeah, you you said it best. That’s a huge part of what the Mets work on with guys is, you know, teaching finance and teaching English and teaching a whole lot of other life lessons because these guys at the age of 16 are really dedicating their lives to baseball and, you know, while kids, let’s say, here in America or around the world are in high school and college and receiving educations, these guys are focusing on hopefully one day reaching the major leagues. So, it’s a huge part of uh you know the the academy like you said and I think a lot of fans overlook it but that’s why the Mets also have awards for the people that help these kids because it is a a big leap especially to come from the Dominican Republic where these kids grew up over to the United States of America. So, Veto, let’s let’s toss the interview and then we’ll wrap things up on the other side. Welcome to Meet at the Apple presented by PC Richard and Son. I’m Veto Kesi. That’s Jonathan Baron and today we are joined by Osiris Calvo. Um, and this is a really exciting day for you. You’re here. You’re one of the award winners for the player development awards today. And just off the top, what’s your experience in New York City been like this week? Well, uh, the experience was very good. I very excited. You know, is a great experience to be here with the other guys. So, Osiris, you are the Mets pitcher of the year in the DSL. a very hitter friendly league. I think a lot of runs scored, but you had a great season. Your erra was under three. What helped you be as successful as you were this season? Well, I I think it was the focus. I was focused in the every season and I work hard in the in this in the every season, you know. And how tough was it battling back from an injury? Oh, it was tough, but you you know, I work hard for to come back and do my best. And a lot of young players want to sign with the Mets because of their facilities and the coaching staff and a lot of the investment that the Mets have made into helping brighten their future. What’s your experience been like with the Mets organization, especially with all they have to offer at the academy? Oh, I think uh the int the facility in the mess is the best. You know, I feel good and I can do my rehab and with the best coaches, with the best trainers, you know. Are there any players that you grew up idolizing that you think you model your game after? I when I was a kid and now I I like I want to be like Clayton Kers. Okay. Yeah. I think he’s the best he’s the best lefty. For Mets fans who haven’t watched you pitch yet, how would you describe yourself as a pitcher? What what pitchers do you throw? First of all, uh I throw fast ball, ball, angel, a slider. And I have my my focus when I I throw the ball, I tend to, you know, attack the bar. I attack the ball with my fast ball and then I’ll put away with my secondary pitches, you know. And I know you said that Clayton Kershaw is someone who you try to emulate your game after, but when you were growing up on the island, you’re from Sto. Domingo. Yeah. Who were your favorite players growing up to watch? Oh. I think he’s a position player. Yeah. But who? I love Manny Mashado. I like He’s here today, you know. Yeah. Manny Mashado is a good third baseman, you know. So, what’s it like being at the Dominican Academy and kind of like the bonds you make with each other as you’re coming up in the organization? We are a family, you know. We when we have a bad day, we need to, you know, we are a family, we to help us, help each other, you know, this is the the form we made that. Is there someone here today that you really really want to meet and have a chance to talk to that you haven’t had a chance to meet yet? Uh, I want to meet all players, you know. I don’t have I I think all players are important. And what’s it just like being at City Field and seeing like what the the future could hold? Well, I I I going to do my best in in two three years and I see here I I I see me in this in in this in this field one day. Maybe not. Well, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but I think if you in the future, yes. Cool. Well, thanks so much for joining us and we’re looking forward to following you along your journey. Thank you. All right, guys. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Meet at the Apple. Appreciate it and hope you know I said it before, but if you have the chance, like, subscribe, Apple, Spotify, revate your podcast. That fivestar rating and actually writing out a review on Apple really goes such a long way. Like I said, if you want more player interviews, if you want more content, more behind the scenes stuff, help us out. Help us grow the show. Do that for us. But, um, yeah, John, I mean, another sick episode and I’m excited for the people to see this one. Yeah. And just overall to put a bow on this day here at City Field with the Player Development Awards, I I still don’t think enough credit goes to all the people that work so hard on a daily basis. And I’m going to shout out some people at the top that are very instrumental, but there are so many people that we might not mention right now, but are really, really putting in the work that is turning up in the box scores and these championships that we’re seeing on the minor league level. Brooklyn, like you mentioned, winning it all. Bingmpington one victory away as of Wednesday when we’re recording this from reaching the championship round for the second time in the past three seasons in DA. But starts with Andy Green, VP of of player development, who was a manager, was a player, and has come over here and has done an incredible job. Uh, Andrew Christie, Chris Gross on the on the scouting side, Drew Tusant, uh, you know, so so many other people that this is a destination for players, as we heard from the two guys that we had a chance to chat with today, and we’ve heard from so many other guys. We’re seeing Nolan Mlan, you know, morphing into an ace of the Mets starting rotation. Uh that’s a guy that the Mets helped get to this point. The Mets taught him that that pitch to get lefties out, making him major league ready. Uh you know, so many so many people up and down the organization. It is such a victory and no matter what the outcome of this season is at the major league level, there is so much to be positive about with the Mets organization. It is rich up and down and the future is so bright for this organization and they continue to add talent and that’s what is so exciting. So, uh that’s all well and good. And you know what else is all well and good is the kind of treatment that you guys can get at PC. Richard and son are good friends. You thought I’d forget, but I would never forget. They’ve got the absolute lowest prices, the best, most knowledgeable sales staff, whatever it is, guaranteed. And they’ve got everything you need as well. It’s kind of like this Mets player development system. No matter what affiliate you go to, there’s talent there. No matter what aisle of the store you go to, there’s some great products that you want, and they will always have the lowest prices. is Richard is reliable and we know that because they have been doing it for longer than anybody else in the game since 1909. Our friends at PC Richard and Son a great week here at City Field. Player development awards. Wow. Like I said, the future’s bright. I’m pumped up. Veto, let’s go Matt. See you guys next time. Thanks for meeting us at the Apple.

Meet at the Apple presented by PC Richard & Son brings you inside the 2025 Mets Player Development Awards at Citi Field.

Vito Calise and Jon Baron sit down with two of the organization’s most exciting young talents — Elian Peña, the DSL Position Player of the Year, and Osiris Calvo, the DSL Pitcher of the Year.

Peña opens up about choosing the Mets, rebounding from early struggles, his family motivation, and why he believes he can “pass Rafael Devers.” Calvo discusses his comeback from injury, modeling his game after Clayton Kershaw, and what makes the Mets’ Dominican Academy truly elite.

Plus, Vito and Jon recap the awards, highlight the rising depth of the farm system, and shout out the staff driving the Mets’ player development success.

🔵 Presented by PC Richard & Son
⚾️ New episodes every week — subscribe for more Mets interviews and behind-the-scenes access.

🕒 Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Elian Peña on comparisons to Rafael Devers
00:31 – Player Development Awards intro
01:48 – The “Trickle-Up” effect in the Mets farm
02:41 – Introducing Elian Peña interview
03:02 – Peña on signing with the Mets
03:52 – Why the Mets stood out to him
04:09 – “I can pass Rafael Devers”
04:25 – Breaking out after a slow start
05:17 – Learning from early struggles
06:06 – Off-field life: family & gaming
06:44 – Idolizing Carlos González
07:18 – Fans following his journey early
08:15 – His first big purchases after signing
08:38 – Coming stateside next season
08:58 – Off-season training goals
09:17 – Mets Academy’s support system
10:01 – Closing thoughts on Peña
10:20 – Recapping Peña’s meteoric rise
11:19 – Transition to Osiris Calvo
12:05 – The importance of education & English lessons
13:06 – Osiris Calvo joins the show
13:30 – Experience in New York
13:52 – Pitching success & focus
14:17 – Battling back from injury
14:49 – Life at the Mets Academy
15:13 – Pitch mix and mentality
15:35 – Growing up idolizing Manny Machado
16:00 – Bonds among prospects in the Dominican Academy
16:23 – Dreaming of Citi Field
17:15 – Outro / Review reminder
17:59 – Player development staff shoutouts
18:57 – Future of the Mets system
19:12 – PC Richard & Son ad read
19:35 – Closing: “Thanks for meeting us at the Apple”

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