| Martín Pérez | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Pérez with the Texas Rangers in 2017 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1991-04-04)April 4, 1991 (age 34) Guanare,Venezuela | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 27, 2012, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 91–93 |
| Earned run average | 4.41 |
| Strikeouts | 1,153 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Martín Pérez Jiménez (born April 4, 1991) is a Venezuelan professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMinnesota Twins,Boston Red Sox,Texas Rangers,Pittsburgh Pirates,San Diego Padres, andChicago White Sox. Pérez was anMLB All-Star in 2022 and won the2023 World Series with the Rangers.
TheTexas Rangers signed Pérez in 2007 for $580,000 as anundrafted free agent. While only making 15 short starts in 62innings at Rookie-level Spokane, Pérez went 1–2 with a 3.65earned run average (ERA).Baseball America ranked Pérez as the #17 baseball prospect in their top 100 for 2010.[1]
On June 26, 2012, Pérez was called up by the Rangers.[2] The next day he made his first major league appearance against theDetroit Tigers. He gave up 2 hits and 4 runs while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning. On June 30, Pérez made his first major league start, pitching 5 and a third innings and striking out five while only giving up two runs in a 7–2 win over theOakland Athletics. On August 1, Pérez was optioned toTriple-A Round Rock to make room for pitcherRyan Dempster.[3]
Pérez went into 2013spring training competing for the fifth spot in the Rangers rotation (which eventually went toNick Tepesch), but on March 3 in a start against the Mariners, he broke his pitching forearm when it was hit by aline drive byBrad Miller.[4] After making 4 rehab starts (2 withFrisco, 2 with Round Rock), Pérez was recalled to make a start on May 27 in adoubleheader against the Diamondbacks.[5] In his season debut, he went 5.1 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits with 2 strikeouts. After the game, he was optioned to Round Rock. After 4 starts at Round Rock, he was recalled on June 22 to replaceJosh Lindblom in the rotation.[6] Pérez threw his firstcomplete game on August 11 against theHouston Astros. In 20 starts with the Rangers, Pérez went 10–6 with a 3.62 ERA, striking out 84 in124+1⁄3 innings.[7]
On November 7, 2013, Pérez signed a four-year, $12.5 million contract with the Rangers that included three club options, keeping him under team control through 2020. He received a $1 millionsigning bonus, and was to earn $750,000 in 2014, $1 million in 2015, $2.9 million in 2016, and $4.4 million in 2017. The 2018 option was worth $6 million and had a $2.45 millionbuyout. The 2019 option was worth $7.5 million and had a $750,000 buyout. The 2020 option was worth $9 million and has a $750,000 buyout.[8]
On April 23, 2014, Pérez threw nine shutout innings against the Oakland A's to secure his second consecutive complete gameshutout.[9] After several ineffective starts following the shutouts, Pérez was placed on thedisabled list due to inflammation in his pitching elbow. On May 19, 2014, Pérez underwentTommy John surgery to repair a partially tornUCL in the aforementioned elbow, which kept him out of action for the remainder of2014.
Pérez began the 2015 season on the 60-daydisabled list to continue recovery from Tommy John surgery.[citation needed]
Pérez had his first major league hit on July 15, 2016, against Chicago Cubs' pitcherKyle Hendricks. He hit a single toKris Bryant. He had been hitless his first nine at bats. In 2016 he was 10–11 and had the fewest strikeouts per 9 innings in the major leagues (4.67).[10] He had more batters reach base against him on errors, 16, than any other pitcher in the major leagues.[11]
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In 2017, Pérez was 13–12 with a 4.32 ERA, and had the highestWHIP among major league pitchers (1.48).[12] He also had the highestline drive percentage allowed (24.8%) of all major league pitchers.[13]
On April 30, 2018, Pérez was placed on the disabled list with discomfort in his right elbow. He was activated on July 14, replacingAlex Claudio, who was placed on the disabled list.[14] In 2018, he was 2–7 with a 6.22 ERA.[7]
On January 30, 2019, Pérez signed a one-year contract with theMinnesota Twins. He was expected to compete for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.[15]
During the 2019 season, he made 32 appearances with 29 starts, with a WHIP of 1.52, the highest in the major leagues.[16] He compiled a 10–7 record in165+1⁄3 innings pitched.[7] After the season, he became a free agent.
On December 19, 2019, Pérez signed a one-year contract with theBoston Red Sox; the contract also included a team option for the 2021 season.[17] Overall with the2020 Red Sox, Pérez appeared in 12 games (all starts), compiling a 3–5 record with 4.50 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched.[7] He led the AL in walks per nine innings pitched, with 4.1, and in loweststrikeout/walk ratio, at 1.64.[18] On November 1, the Red Sox declined to exercise their $6.85 million option for Pérez for the 2021 season, paying him a $500,000 buyout and making him a free agent.[19]
On February 12, 2021, Pérez officially re-signed with the Red Sox on a one-year, $4.5 million contract.[20] On February 17, MLB.com mistakenly announced that Perez would be switching his uniform number to 33, which had not been issued by the Red Sox sinceJason Varitek's retirement in 2012; Pérez clarified that this was an error and that he had no intention of changing numbers.[21] He began the season in the Red Sox rotation, then was moved to the bullpen in early August.[22] On August 30, Pérez was placed on the COVID-relatedinjured list;[23] he returned to the team on September 14.[24] Overall during the regular season, Pérez made 36 appearances (22 starts) for Boston, compiling a 7–8 record with 4.74 ERA; he struck out 97 batters in 114 innings.[7] In the postseason, he made four relief appearances againstHouston in theAmerican League Championship Series, allowing five runs in three innings.[7] On November 7, the team declined to exercise their $6 million option on Pérez for 2022, making him a free agent again.[25]
On March 14, 2022, Pérez signed a one-year, $4 million contract with theTexas Rangers.[26] On May 29, Pérez took perfect game bid versus theHouston Astros into the seventh inning untilChas McCormick led off with a double.[27] Pérez was selected as an American League All-Star in 2022.[28] Over 32 starts in 2022, he posted a 12–8 record with a 2.89 ERA and 169 strikeouts over196+1⁄3 innings.[29]
On November 15, 2022, Pérez accepted a one-year qualifying offer worth $19.65 million to return to Texas for the 2023 season.[30] The Rangers went on to win the2023 World Series, giving Perez his first championship.
On January 5, 2024, thePittsburgh Pirates signed Pérez to a one-year contract worth $8 million.[31] In 16 starts for Pittsburgh, Pérez compiled a 2–5 record and 5.20 ERA with 63 strikeouts across 83 innings pitched.
On July 30, 2024, the Pirates traded Pérez to theSan Diego Padres in exchange for pitcher Ronaldys Jimenez.[32] In 10 starts for San Diego, Pérez posted a 3-1 record and 3.46 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 52 innings pitched.
On January 21, 2025, Pérez signed a one-year, $5 million contract with theChicago White Sox.[33] On April 19, he was placed on the injured list with inflammation in his throwing elbow.[34] Two days later, Pérez was transferred to the 60-day injured list.[35] On April 22, it was announced that he would miss the majority of the year due to a flexor strain.[36] Pérez was activated from the injured list on August 12.[37] In 11 total appearances (10 starts) for Chicago, he posted a 1-6 record and 3.54 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 56 innings of work. On September 19, Pérez was placed on the injured list due to a shoulder strain, officially ending his season.[38] He declined the 2026 option in his contract and became a free agent on November 4.[39]
Pérez has representedVenezuela twice in theWorld Baseball Classic. In2017, he started two games and pitched six innings, giving up six runs and earning an ERA of 7.50.[40] He earned a loss in Venezuela's 13−2 defeat againstPuerto Rico in the second round, their final game in the tournament before being eliminated.[41] Pérez returned to play for Venezuela in2023, pitching in3+2⁄3 innings in which he allowed four runs.[42] The team was eliminated in thequarterfinals, losing to theUnited States 9−7.[43]
Pérez features afour-seam fastball that is regularly clocked at 93 miles per hour (150 km/h), a sharp breakingcurveball, and achange-up. His velocity is not that of apower pitcher, but his pitches have good movement. In 2007, when he was first signed by the Rangers, he was likened to be a cross betweenJohan Santana andGreg Maddux.[44]
