| Timo Pérez | |
|---|---|
 Pérez with the Detroit Tigers | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1975-04-08)April 8, 1975 (age 50) Baní,Dominican Republic | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| NPB: April 5, 1996, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp | |
| MLB: September 1, 2000, for the New York Mets | |
| Last appearance | |
| NPB: May 3, 1999, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp | |
| MLB: September 29, 2007, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .271 |
| Home runs | 9 |
| Runs batted in | 59 |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .269 |
| Home runs | 26 |
| Runs batted in | 185 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Timoniel M. Pérez (born April 8, 1975) is a formerMajor League Baseball (MLB)outfielder. Between 2000 and 2007, he played for theNew York Mets,Chicago White Sox,St. Louis Cardinals, andDetroit Tigers. Prior to his MLB career, Pérez spent four seasons with theHiroshima Toyo Carp ofNippon Professional Baseball.
Pérez began his professional career by playing for theHiroshima Toyo Carp of the JapaneseCentral League from 1996–1999. His best season in Japan was 1998, when he hit .296 in 98 games.[1]
TheNew York Mets ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) signed Pérez as afree agent in 2000. A September 1 callup, he made his MLB debut on September 1 against theSt. Louis Cardinals. He singled to center field as a pinch hitter against Cardinals relieverDave Veres and was then thrown out trying to steal second.[2] He hit a combined 12-for-40 in the2000 National League Division Series and2000 National League Championship Series.
In Game 1 of the2000 World Series against theNew York Yankees, Pérez committed a baserunning blunder that remains infamous among Mets fans. With Pérez on first base,Todd Zeile hit a long fly ball that Pérez thought to be ahome run, causing him to slow down on the basepaths. However, the ball hit the top of the outfield wall and stayed in the park. Pérez's error in judgment caused him to be thrown out athome plate trying to score on the play.[3][4] Overall, he played in 5 games in the World Series for the Mets, and had two hits in 17 at-bats.
After another brief period with the Triple-ANorfolk Tides in 2001, he became a Mets regular. From 2000–2003 with the Mets, Pérez played in 372 games and hit .276 with 18 homers and 114runs batted in.
Pérez was traded to theChicago White Sox of theAmerican League during spring training in 2004, in exchange forMatt Ginter. He was the fourth outfielder on their2005 World Series championship team, only recording one at-bat in the series. In two seasons with the White Sox, he hit .235 in 179 games.
On February 10, 2006, theCincinnati Reds signed Pérez to a minor league contract, but he was traded to theSt. Louis Cardinals on April 21.[5] Timo began his time with the Cardinals in the minor leagues and was promoted to the major league team on June 2, 2006. In his first Cardinalat bat, he washit in the head with a pitch. He split his time between the Cardinals and theMemphis Redbirds before being designated for assignment on August 23. He played in 23 games with the Cards and hit .194.
On January 5, 2007, Pérez signed a minor league contract with theDetroit Tigers, and was called up on July 19, 2007 to replace the injuredMarcus Thames. Pérez began the season with the Triple-AToledo Mud Hens, where his play earned him a spot on the 2007International League All Star Team. Pérez was named MVP of the Triple-A All-Star game after going 3-4 with 2RBI and arun scored. At the time of his callup, he was leading the league inhits, runs, anddoubles, and was second inbatting average.[6] Pérez was optioned back to Toledo on July 23, 2007. Then on August 28, 2007 he was recalled whendesignated hitterGary Sheffield was placed on the 15-daydisabled list.
Pérez was designated for assignment on November 30, 2007. He accepted an outright assignment to the minor leagues on December 7, 2007. The Tigers re-signed him on December 11, 2007, and placed him on the 40-man roster. He played with theToledo Mud Hens for the entire 2008 Triple-A season and became a free agent at the end of the season, but re-signed with the Tigers in January 2009.
He was released by the Tigers in April 2009 and signed with theRojos del Águila de Veracruz of theMexican League[7] He played in 77 games with them and hit .323. On August 13, 2009, Perez signed with IndependentCan-Am League teamNew Jersey Jackals.[8] He played in 21 games for the Jackals and hit .338.
On January 28, 2010, Pérez signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers with an invite to spring training. He was assigned to the AAAAlbuquerque Isotopes.
On July 7, 2010, he was released from his contract.
Pérez signed a minor league contract with thePhiladelphia Phillies on July 22, 2010 and was assigned to their AA affiliate inReading, Pennsylvania.[9]
Perez went back to Detroit on another minor league contract in 2011 and played with their AAA affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens. In 2012, he played for theLong Island Ducks of the independentAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.
· Baseball Almanac