Miguel Perez

MIGUEL PEREZ
CATCHER
  Born: September 25, 1983
Height: 6′ 3″
Weight: 235
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: By Cincinnati Reds as int’l free agent, 2000
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Born: Caracas, Venezuela
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Perez is a solid defensive catcher with a career CS% of 34%, but he’s never hit much.  He got a cup of coffee with the Reds in 2005, but they removed him from their major league roster a year later.  He seems to have reached his peak in AA.  He’s settled in as an organizational player with the Pirates.

2002
R:  360/396/372, 86 AB, 1 2B, 2 BB, 9 K, 3-3 SB

Hit well in brief rookie league debut.

2003
R+:  339/410/419, 227 AB, 11 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 18 BB, 27 K, 1-2 SB
A:  172/273/172, 58 AB, 4 BB, 19 K, 1-1 SB

Perez again hit for a good average, this time in advanced rookie league.  He also saw brief time in low A.

2004
A:  237/309/277, 249 AB, 7 2B, 1 HR, 16 BB, 62 K, 2-4 SB
A+:  232/239/261, 69 AB, 2 2B, 1 BB, 12 K,  1-1 SB

Perez struggled in low A, with poor walk and K rates, and also struggled in a brief stop in high A.

2005
A+:  268/305/347, 291 AB, 11 2B, 4 HR, 16 BB, 63 K, 7-8 SB
AAA:  208/275/292, 72 AB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 BB, 19 K
MLB:  000/000/000, 3 AB, 1 K

Perez’ hitting improved in high A, but still wasn’t good.  He spent a little time in AAA and played in two games with the Reds during a September callup.  He threw out 44% of base stealers in the minors.

2006
AA:  241/290/305, 394 AB, 16 2B, 3 HR, 19 BB, 88 K, 5-6 SB

Spent the season in AA, throwing out 41% but hitting very little.  Strike zone issues continued.  The Reds removed him from the 40-man roster after the season and outrighted him to the minors.

2007
R:  417/462/750, 12 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K
A+:  324/353/481, 108 AB, 5 2B, 4 HR, 6 BB, 19 K
AA:  269/269/654, 26 AB, 1 2B, 3 HR, 3 K

Injured for most of the season.

2008
AA:  281/330/339, 171 AB, 4 2B, 2 HR, 9 BB, 32 K, 1-2 SB

The Pirates signed Perez as a minor league free agent.  He was expected to be the starting catcher at Altoona, but missed most of the first half with an injury.  He made some progress with the bat, hitting for a better average but still without much power or many walks.

2009
AA:  262/351/393, 84 AB, 5 2B, 2 HR, 8 BB, 21 K
AAA:  182/217/182, 22 AB, 1 BB, 9 K, 0-1 SB

Perez returned to Altoona as a backup and played only sparingly.

2010
AA:  280/329/357, 157 AB, 12 2B, 6 BB, 27 K

Signed with Indians and served as a backup in AA.  He again hit for average but not a lot else.

2011
A- (Wash):  429/429/429, 7 AB, 1 K
AA (Wash):  000/000/000, 9 AB, 3 K
AAA (Pgh):  211/286/316, 19 AB, 1 3B, 2 BB, 7 K

Perez didn’t sign with anybody in 2011 until June.  He played in two games with the Nationals’ short-season affiliate, then was sent to the Pirates just two and a half weeks after signing with Washington.  The Pirates needed him on an emergency basis, having lost three catchers to injury and designated Dusty Brown for assignment.  After he played in eight games with Indianapolis, the Pirates sent him back to the Nationals.

2012
AA:  250/250/250, 4 AB, 2 K
AAA:  333/500/333, 6 AB, 2 BB, 1 K

The Pirates added Perez to provide catching depth in the upper minors.  He spent nearly all year inactive, appearing in one game for Altoona and four, plus the playoffs, for Indianapolis.

2013
AA:  143/143/143, 7 AB, 1 K

Perez appeared in four games for Altoona.

Perez evidently is more of a coach these days, as he appears in games only when the organization is short on catchers.  He was a free agent again but signed to return in 2014.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Majors
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MLB.com
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2014: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2002
MLB Debut: 9/7/2005
MiLB FA Eligible: 2012
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 1 (USED: 2005, 2006)
MLB Service Time: 0.026
TRANSACTIONS
November 15, 2000: Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent.
November 19, 2004: Contract purchased by the Cincinnati Reds.
December 12, 2006: Non-tendered by the Cincinnati Reds.
December 13, 2006: Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as a minor league free agent.
October 29, 2007: Became a minor league free agent.
December 17, 2007: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league free agent.
November 9, 2009: Became a minor league free agent.
March 19, 2010: Signed by the Cleveland Indians as a minor league free agent.
November 6, 2010: Became a minor league free agent.
June 10, 2011: Signed by the Washington Nationals as a minor league free agent.
June 27, 2011: Acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
August 9, 2011: Traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Washington Nationals for future considerations.
November 2, 2011: Became a minor league free agent.
February 27, 2012: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
November 3, 2012: Became a minor league free agent.
January 8, 2013: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
November 5, 2013: Became a free agent.
November 15, 2013: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.