Chris Perez
From BR Bullpen
Christopher Ralph Perez
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 4", Weight 225 lb.
- School University of Miami
- High School The Pendleton School
- Debut May 16, 2008
- Born July 1, 1985 in Holmes Beach, FL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Pitcher Chris Perez was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the supplemental first round of the 2006 amateur draft with the 42nd overall pick and was signed by scout Steve Turco. He made his pro debut that summer with the Swing of the Quad Cities, going 2-0 with a 1.84 ERA and 12 saves.
In 2007, he went 2-1, 2.96 for the AA Springfield Cardinals and the AAA Memphis Redbirds, saving 35 games in 54 outings, with 77 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings. Chris was with Team USA for the 2007 Baseball World Cup and allowed one run in two innings as the team's least-used player. They became the first US team in over 30 years to win the Baseball World Cup.
He started 2008 back with Memphis, but was called up for his first taste of the major leagues in mid-May. He went 1-1, 3.20 with 11 saves in 26 games for the Redbirds. He was with the Cardinals from mid-May to mid-July, went back to Memphis for a time, then returned to St. Louis for good in early August. In his major league debut on May 16th, he pitched a scoreless inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, then was credited with his first major league win in his next appearance two days later, also against the Rays. Overall, he was 3-3, 3.46 in 41 games with the Cardinals, with 7 saves and 42 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. He did not do as well with the Cards at the start of 2009, with a 4.18 ERA and only one save in his first 29 outings. On June 27th, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians along with a player to be named later in returned for veteran utility player Mark DeRosa. He got into a further 32 games with the Tribe during the remainder fo the 2009 season, with a record of 0-1, 4.32 with a save.
Perez took a big step forward in 2010 when the Indians made him their full-time closer during the season. He was dominant in 63 games, posting a sparkling 1.71 ERA, with 61 strikeouts and 23 saves. In 2011, he was named to the All-Star team after the Indians began the year leading the AL Central. He set a personal best with 36 saves, although his record fell to 4-7 and his ERA rose to 3.32. His strikeout rate continued to fall, as he struck out only 39, with 26 walks, in 59 2/3 innings. In 2012, he got off on the wrong foot in spring training when he pulled an oblique muscle in his left side while throwing his first mound session of the year on February 26th. He explained that he had been going 100% before his body may have been ready for the strain, because he does not feel that working in lower gear brings him any benefit. The injury made his presence with the Indians doubtful for Opening Day, but he was indeed ready to go when the season started although the Indians may have wished he was not. In his first outing on April 5th, he came on in relief of starter Justin Masterson with the Indians holding a 3-1 lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in the 9th inning, but proceeded to give up 3 runs to blow the save. It took 16 innings to determine a winner in what turned out to be the longest opening day contest in major league history.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- AL All-Star (2011)
- 30 Saves Seasons: 1 (2011)
