Williams Pérez

Williams David Pérez Montes (born May 21, 1991) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Pérez signed with the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent in 2009. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Braves in 2015-16.

Williams Pérez
Pérez with the Atlanta Braves in 2016 spring training
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1991-05-21) May 21, 1991
Acarigua, Portuguesa, Venezuela
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 8, 2015, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record9–9
Earned run average5.18
Strikeouts100
Teams

Career

Atlanta Braves

Pérez signed with the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent on May 22, 2009.[1][2] He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Braves, posting a 2.35 ERA in 17 games. In 2010, Pérez pitched for the rookie-level GCL Braves, registering an 0-6 record and 5.63 ERA in 12 games, 11 of them starts. The following season, Pérez split the year between the GCL Braves and the rookie-level Danville Braves, accumulating a 4-0 record and 2.75 ERA in 13 appearances. In 2012, Pérez returned to Danville, where he posted a 4-3 record and 4.15 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 56.1 innings of work. The next year, he split the season between the Single-A Rome Braves and the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats, pitching to a cumulative 11-6 record and 3.53 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 125.0 innings pitched. He spent the entire 2014 season with the Double-A Mississippi Braves, recording a 7-6 record and 2.91 ERA in 26 appearances.[3]

The Braves added Pérez to the team's 40-man roster on November 19, 2014.[4] He was assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves to begin the 2015 season. Pérez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on May 6, 2015.[5] Pérez debuted two days later, yielding two walks, two hits and four runs, while recording one out against the Washington Nationals.[6] He was then added to the starting rotation and made his first start, a no decision against the Tampa Bay Rays, on May 20, 2015.[7] Pérez made a total of 14 starts in his rookie season. In his first eight starts, he recorded a 2.27 ERA, then was placed on the disabled list in July with a bruised left foot. Upon his return to the active roster, Pérez made six more starts, in which his ERA was 9.87, before being demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett on August 29.[8]

Pérez opened the 2016 season in the Braves starting rotation and made three appearances before he was optioned to Gwinnett on April 20.[9] He was recalled on May 11, and earned the win in that night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.[10] While facing the San Diego Padres on June 6, Pérez pitched five innings and left the game with an injury. Two days later, he was diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain and was placed on the disabled list.[11] He was reactivated on September 6 to start against the Washington Nationals.[12] After losing to the Nationals, Pérez was removed from his next start against the New York Mets in the midst of the third inning.[13] He finished the year with a 2-3 record and 6.04 ERA in 11 games. On December 8, 2016, Pérez was released by the Braves.[14]

Chicago Cubs

On February 4, 2017, Pérez signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.[15] He spent the season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, pitching to a 7-10 record and 5.01 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 120.1 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.[16] On November 20, Pérez re-signed with the Cubs on a new a minor league contract and received an invitation to spring training.[17] On February 18, 2018, the Cubs released Pérez.[18]

Southern Illinois Miners

On April 9, 2018, Pérez signed with the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League.[19] Pérez made two appearances for the Miners in 2018, and pitched to a 1.64 ERA, allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 10 in 11.0 innings of work.

Seattle Mariners

On June 5, 2018, Pérez signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners organization.[20] He spent the year split between the Double-A Arkansas Travelers and the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, registering an 8-2 record and 2.47 ERA in 17 games between the two teams. He elected free agency on November 2, 2018.

St. Louis Cardinals

On November 12, 2018, Pérez signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.[21] He split the 2019 season between the rookie-level GCL Cardinals, the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals, and the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, accumulating a 6-3 record and 5.02 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 75.1 innings between the three levels. Pérez elected free agency after the season on November 4, 2019.[22]

Mexican League

On May 20, 2021, Pérez signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.[23] In 7 appearances with Tijuana, Pérez recorded a 2-1 record and 6.75 ERA. On July 4, 2021, Pérez was traded to the Diablos Rojos del México.[24] He made just one start for the club, giving up 5 hits and 1 earned run in 4 innings. On July 19, 2021, Pérez was traded to the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.[25] He was released on November 23, 2021. On May 5, 2022, Pérez signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos.[26] He became a free agent following the 2022 season. On January 4, 2023, Perez signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo. [27] However, he was released on February 25, 2023, prior to the start of the 2023 season.[28]

Scouting report

Pérez primarily throws three pitches: a sinker, curveball, and changeup. All three offerings have a tendency to sink. Despite this, during his first season, Pérez gave up more fly balls on the latter two pitches than other pitchers did.[29] During his minor league career, however, Pérez was known as a ground ball pitcher.[30] Perez has continued to be a ground-ball pitcher at the major-league level, posting a ground-ball rate of 50.9% in 2015,[31] compared to a league-average rate of 45.3%.[32]

Personal life

On February 9, 2018, Pérez was arrested in Venezuela after he shot and killed Cesar Quintero, his 52-year old coach. The shooting was accidental and police ruled out foul play.[33][34]

See also

References

  1. Sickels, John (June 17, 2015). "A sleeper who woke up: Braves rookie Williams Perez". Minor League Ball. SBNation. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  2. Bradley, Mark (August 12, 2015). "Perez offers another glimpse of the Braves' young pitching". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  3. "Williams Perez Minor, Winter, Independent & Mexican Leagues Statistics & History".
  4. Bowman, Mark (November 19, 2014). "Top prospect Peraza among Braves' roster additions". MLB.com. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  5. Cooper, Jon (May 6, 2015). "Braves recall Perez, option Kohn to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  6. Cristodero, Damian (May 8, 2015). "Perez battles command in big league debut". MLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  7. Bowman, Mark (May 20, 2015). "Perez impressive in first Major League start". MLB.com. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  8. Bowman, Mark (August 29, 2015). "Braves option Perez, leaving rotation vacancy". MLB.com. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  9. Bowman, Mark (April 20, 2016). "Braves could tab Foltynewicz or Blair to start". MLB.com. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  10. Bowman, Mark (May 12, 2016). "Perez rises to occasion on hectic day". MLB.com. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  11. Bowman, Mark (June 8, 2016). "Braves' Perez hopeful for minimum DL stay". MLB.com. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  12. Cunningham, Michael (September 6, 2016). "Braves rally but fall to Nats". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  13. Bowman, Mark (September 11, 2016). "Perez exits in third with apparent injury". MLB.com. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  14. Bowman, Mark (December 8, 2016). "Braves select righty Rivero in Rule 5 Draft". MLB.com. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  15. Byrne, Connor (February 4, 2017). "Cubs Sign Williams Perez To Minor League Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  16. "Outgoing Cubs Minor League Free Agents: John Andreoli, Trey Martin, Among Others". bleachernation.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  17. "Cubs invite Gimenez, 18 other players to major league camp". Associated Press. January 25, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  18. Gonzales, Mark (February 18, 2018). "Joe Maddon knows managing Cubs playing time won't be easy". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  19. "Miners Ink Former Major Leaguer Williams Perez". 9 April 2018.
  20. Eddy, Matt (June 10, 2018). "Minor League Transactions". Baseball America. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  21. "Minor-League Pitching Signings: 11/14/18".
  22. Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  23. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_trn&lid=125
  24. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_trn&lid=125
  25. "GUERREROS FORTALECE SU STAFF DE PITCHEO". guerreros.mx (in Spanish). July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  26. "Williams Perez Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  27. https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-4-de-enero-de-2023
  28. "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 24 de febrero de 2023". MiLB.com (in Spanish). February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  29. "Player Card: Williams Pérez". Brooks Baseball. Archived from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  30. Karaman, Wilson (June 2, 2015). "Who Is This Williams Perez?". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  31. "Williams Pérez - Stats - Pitching | FanGraphs Baseball".
  32. "Major League Total Stats » 2015 » Pitchers » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball".
  33. Birch, Tommy (February 12, 2018). "Report: Iowa Cubs pitcher arrested after accidental shooting that killed coach". Des Moines Register. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  34. Townsend, Mark (February 9, 2018). "Report: Cubs pitcher involved in accidental shooting that killed former coach". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
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