Eury Perez

EURY PEREZ, CENTER FIELDER
Born: May 30, 1990
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int’l Free Agent, 2007 (Nationals)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: Beverly Hills Sports Council

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Perez’ game is all about speed, for which he rates an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale.  He has no power, but generally hit for good averages by beating out bunts and infield hits.  He’s also been a prolific base stealer in the minors, with good success rates.  Once he got past rookie ball, though, his walk rates plummeted.  It’s a lot harder to get by in the majors on infield hits, so he seems to have gotten pegged as more of a fourth or fifth outfielder.  Perez is a good defensive outfielder, with plenty of range for center and an arm that’s at least average.  The Pirates signed him to a minor league deal for 2017, with an invitation to major league spring training.

2007
DSL:  253/399/297, 158 AB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 32 BB, 39 K, 15-20 SB

Perez had a good debut, playing at age 17.  He didn’t show any power, but drew a lot of walks.

2008
DSL:  321/424/436, 218 AB, 9 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 32 BB, 37 K, 28-34 SB

The Nationals sent Perez back to the DSL for a second season and he had a much stronger year, hitting for solid power and taking good advantage of his speed.

2009
R:  381/443/503, 181 AB, 3 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 15 BB, 20 K, 16-24 SB

Perez went to the GCL and had the highest batting average of any player in short season ball.  He didn’t walk nearly as much, which often happens when a player moves up from the DSL, but he made contact consistently.  Baseball America rated him the Nationals’ 11th best prospect after the season.

2010
A:  299/345/381, 438 AB, 17 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 23 BB, 74 K, 64-77 SB

Perez got off to a rough start in full season ball, with a .571 OPS in the season’s first half, but he improved to .835 in the second half.  His walk rate, however, did drop sharply overall.  He stole the second-most bases in the minors, with a good success rate.  BA rated him the Nats’ eighth best prospect after the season.

2011
A+:  283/319/332, 424 AB, 9 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 22 BB, 63 K, 45-60 SB

Perez spent the year in high A and continued to hit for average, but seldom walked and hit for no power.  BA dropped his prospect ranking to 22nd in the Nats’ system.  The Nationals added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

2012
R:  409/435/455, 22 AB, 1 2B, 1 BB, 5-5 SB
AA:  299/325/342, 351 AB, 11 2B, 2 3B, 7 BB, 53 K, 26-36 SB
AAA:  333/373/390, 159 AB, 7 2B, 1 3B, 8 BB, 26 K, 20-25 SB
MLB:  200/200/200, 5 AB, 3-3 SB

Perez continued along the same lines in AA, hitting for average but no power, and seldom drawing a walk.  He hit better after a late-season callup to AAA.  The Nationals called him up in September and utilized him mainly for pinch running.  BA rated him their seventh best prospect.

2013
AAA:  300/336/422, 403 AB, 18 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 16 BB, 40 K, 26-30 SB
MLB:  125/125/125, 8 AB, 3 K, 1-1 SB

The Nats sent Perez to AAA, where he showed a little more power but continued to show little patience.  He got called up briefly in May and again in September.

2014
R (Wash):  000/000/000, 2 AB, 1 K
A+ (Wash):  321/387/464, 28 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 4 K, 6-7 SB
AAA (Wash):  311/372/406, 212 AB, 13 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 13 BB, 35 K, 20-23 SB
MLB (NYY):  200/200/200, 10 AB, 3 K, 1-1 SB

Perez missed two months with a fractured toe and, other than rehabbing, spent the rest of the minor league season in AAA.  His hitting continued much as before.  The Nationals designated him for assignment in September and the Yankees claimed.  He got a little time in the majors after that.  The Yankees dfa’d him after the season and Atlanta claimed him.

2015
AAA:  297/370/373, 236 AB, 8 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 22 BB, 39 K, 28-36 SB
MLB:  269/331/303, 119 AB, 4 2B, 7 BB, 23 K, 3-4 SB

The Braves sent Perez to AAA to open the season, then called him up in mid-June.  He got semi-regular playing time in left field, a position where the rebuilding Braves didn’t really have anybody.  He posted a decent average and OBP, with no power.  Atlanta non-tendered Perez after the season and he signed a minor league deal with Houston.

2016
AAA (Hou):  267/298/385, 135 AB, 4 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 25 K, 9-13 SB
AAA (TB):  239/295/307, 88 AB, 2 2B, 2 3B, 5 BB, 18 K, 11-13 SB

The Astros sent Perez to AAA and, in June, sold his contract to Tampa Bay.  He got only sporadic playing time in either organization and his hitting fell off.

Perez could conceivably make the Pirates out of spring training as a backup in the outfield.  They have a lot of players, though, who can play there even though they’re not primarily outfielders, including Adam Frazier, Alen Hanson, Josh Bell and John Jaso.  Perez’ weak 2016 season is a warning sign, too.  If he loses any speed at all, he won’t have much to offer.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2017: Minor league minimum
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2007
MLB Debut: 9/10/2011
MiLB FA Eligible: 2017
MLB FA Eligible: 2022
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: November 18, 2011
Options Remaining: 0 (USED: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
MLB Service Time: 1.042
TRANSACTIONS
April 13, 2007: Signed as an international free agent by the Washington Nationals.
November 18, 2011: Contract purchased by the Washington Nationals.
September 18, 2014: Designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals.
September 22, 2014: Claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Washington Nationals.
January 16, 2015: Designated for assignment by the New York Yankees.
January 23, 2015: Claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves from the New York Yankees.
December 2, 2015: Non-tendered by the Atlanta Braves.
January 1, 2016: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Houston Astros.
June 23, 2016: Traded by the Houston Astros to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations.
November 7, 2016: Became a free agent.
December 16, 2016: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.