| Eddie Pérez | |
|---|---|
 Pérez before a spring training game | |
| Atlanta Braves – No. 95 | |
| Catcher /Coach | |
| Born: (1968-05-04)May 4, 1968 (age 57) Ciudad Ojeda,Venezuela | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 10, 1995, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 2005, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .253 |
| Home runs | 40 |
| Runs batted in | 172 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
As player
As coach
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Eduardo Rafael Pérez (born May 4, 1968) is aVenezuelan-American former professionalbaseballcatcher. Since 2007, he has served as acoach for theAtlanta Braves. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for the Braves,Cleveland Indians, andMilwaukee Brewers. During his tenure with the Braves, Pérez was notable for being the personal catcher forBaseball Hall of Fame pitcherGreg Maddux and for being named theMost Valuable Player of the1999 National League Championship Series.[1]
Born inCiudad Ojeda,Venezuela, Pérez was signed by the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent in1986.[2] He spent eight seasons in the Braves'minor league system, eventually progressing to their Triple-A affiliate, theRichmond Braves.[3] In1994, he was named theMost Valuable Player of theVenezuelan Winter League.[1] He posted a .265batting average with 19doubles and 40runs batted in with Richmond in1995, earning a late season call up to Atlanta.[3] Pérez made his major league debut with the Braves at the age of 27 on September 10,1995.[2] In his first game as a starting player on September 15, he hit ahome run for his first major leaguehit.[4][5] Pérez made the post-season roster, but didn't get to play as the Braves went on to win the1995 World Series.[2]
Pérez served as the Braves' back up catcher behindJavy López, but by June1996, he had taken on the role ofpersonal catcher forGreg Maddux, a job previously held byCharlie O'Brien who had been grantedfree agency during the off-season.[6] The Braves went on to win theNational Leaguepennant before losing to theNew York Yankees in the1996 World Series.[7]
On September 17,1997, Pérez hit agrand slamhome run against theSan Francisco Giants, enabling the Braves to tie a major league team record with 11 grand slams in one season.[8] With Pérez as his catcher, Maddux ended the year with a 2.20earned run average, second best in the National League, as the Braves once again clinched theNational League East Division crown.[9] The Braves swept theHouston Astros in three games in the1997 National League Division Series before losing to the eventual world championFlorida Marlins in the1997 National League Championship Series.[10][11]
Pérez had his best year in1998 when he posted a .336 batting average along with a .404on-base percentage in 61 games.[2] He committed only 1error in 305total chances for a .997fielding percentage.[2] His working relationship with Maddux continued to improve with Maddux leading the National League with 5shutouts, and a 2.22 earned run average.[12] The Braves once again claimed the National League East Division crown and defeated theChicago Cubs in three games in the1998 National League Division Series.[13] Pérez hit an eighth-inning grand slam home run in the decisive Game 3 of the series.[14] However, the Braves' season ended when they lost to theSan Diego Padres in the1998 National League Championship Series.[15]
In1999, Pérez was thrust into a starting role when Javy López suffered an injury to a ligament in his right knee in late July and was lost for the season.[16] He stepped in with a .249 batting average along with 7 home runs, 30 runs batted in, and finished fourth in the league in fielding percentage and inrange factor.[2] The Braves won their fifth consecutive National League East Division title and then defeated theHouston Astros in four games in the1999 National League Division Series.[17]
In the1999 National League Championship Series against theNew York Mets, Pérez, normally known for his defensive skills, became an offensive standout. He hit a home run in Game 1 to help the Braves win 4–2.[18] He followed with a two-run, sixth-inning home run in Game 2 that broke a 2–2 tie.[19] Pérez contributed a two-runsingle in the deciding Game 6 as the Braves won 10–9 in 11 innings.[20] He totaled 10 hits in 20at bats for a .500 batting average along with 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in to earn him theLeague Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award.[21][22] After an emotionally draining National League Championship series, the Braves were swept by theNew York Yankees in four games in the1999 World Series.[23]
In May2000, Pérez suffered atorn rotator cuff and missed the entire season.[24] He re-injured the same shoulder in March of2001 and only appeared in 5 games that season.[25] In March2002, Pérez was traded to theCleveland Indians who were in need of a backup catcher.[26] Pérez became expendable after the Braves acquired catcherHenry Blanco.[26]
Pérez spent the 2002 season as backup toEinar Diaz and was granted free agency at the end of the year.[2] In January2003, he signed a contract to play for the Milwaukee Brewers.[2] Pérez was in aplatoon system alongsideKeith Osik in which he started three out of every five games.[27] He was hitting for a .315 batting average by mid-season, but tapered off to finish the season with a .271 average along with career-highs in home runs (11) and runs batted in (45).[28]
In December 2003, Pérez signed a contract to return to play for the Braves.[29] He served as a backup catcher toJohnny Estrada in2004 and2005. On May 18, 2004, he was the last out ofRandy Johnson's perfect game, being called upon to pinch-hit for pitcherMike Hampton because of excellent career numbers against Johnson (6 hits in 13 at-bats).[30] Nonetheless, he struck out to end the perfect game.[31] He sufferedtendinitis in his right shoulder during the 2005 season and was placed on thedisabled list for most of the season.[32] While on the disabled list, Perez's duties as catcher were taken over byBrian McCann who eventually took over as the Braves' starting catcher. He returned to make one final major league appearance as apinch hitter on September 27,2005 at the age of 37.[33][34]
In an eleven-year major league career, Pérez played in 564games, accumulating 386hits in 1,525at bats for a .253 career batting average along with 40 home runs, 172 runs batted in and a .297 on-base percentage.[2] He ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage.[2]
In2006, Pérez was a player-coach for the Double-AMississippi Braves.[3] Atlanta BravesmanagerBobby Cox named Pérez as his bullpen coach for the2007 season.[35] WhenFredi Gonzalez was named the Braves manager for the2011 season, he retained Pérez as his bullpen coach. After the Braves fired Gonzalez he was moved to be the current first base coach for the new managerBrian Snitker.[36]
Pérez was hired as the manager for theÁguilas del Zulia of theVenezuelan Winter League for two seasons, 2008–2010.[37] He rejoined the team in the 2014 season.[38] In 2015, Pérez managed theTigres de Aragua.[39]
On August 13, 2014, Pérez, his wife, and his daughter became naturalized U.S. citizens. Pérez, who will retain his Venezuelan citizenship, has lived in the Atlanta area since 1994.[40][41]
His son Andres was drafted in the 36th round of the2016 Major League Baseball draft. Andres declined the draft offer and attended college instead. He will enter the draft again in 2021.[42]
