Carlos Pérez (catcher, born 1996)

Carlos Pérez
Pérez with the Charlotte Knights in 2022
Free agent
Catcher
Born: (1996-09-10) September 10, 1996 (age 28)
Valencia, Venezuela
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 26, 2022, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.209
Home runs1
Runs batted in5
Teams

Carlos Jesús Pérez (born September 10, 1996) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox in 2023.

Career

Pérez signed with the Chicago White Sox as an international free agent in March 2014.[1] He made his professional debut that season with the Dominican Summer League White Sox and also played with the team in 2015. Pérez spent 2016 with the Arizona League White Sox, Great Falls Voyagers and Kannapolis Intimidators. He played 2017 with Great Falls, 2018 with Kannapolis and 2019 with the Winston-Salem Dash.

Pérez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] He returned in 2021 to play for the Birmingham Barons and Charlotte Knights.[3] He returned to Charlotte to start 2022.[4]

On August 21, 2022, Pérez was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Yasmani Grandal was placed on the 10-day injured list.[5] On August 27, Pérez collected his first career hit, a single off of Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly.[6]

Pérez was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte to begin the 2023 season after losing the backup catcher job to Seby Zavala.[7] In 27 games for the White Sox, he hit .204/.264/.347 with one home run and three RBI. On December 30, 2023, Pérez was designated for assignment by Chicago to make room on the active roster for the signing of Chris Flexen.[8] He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple–A Charlotte on January 4, 2024.[9] He became a free agent after the 2024 season.[10]

International career

Pérez was named to the Venezuela national baseball team for the 2024 WBSC Premier12. He was named to the All-World Team as the best first baseman.[11]

Personal life

Pérez's brother, Carlos Eduardo Pérez, also played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, and Oakland Athletics.[12]

References

  1. ^ "White Sox Catcher Carlos Perez Knocks on Door of MLB".
  2. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. ^ "Pérez 'in very good shape' to compete for '22 roster spot". MLB.com.
  4. ^ "Pérez off to Strong Start to 2022".
  5. ^ McDonald, Darragh. "White Sox Select Carlos Pérez". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  6. ^ "Carlos Pérez's first MLB hit | 08/27/2022". MLB.com.
  7. ^ "White Sox's Carlos Perez: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "White Sox's Carlos Perez: Designated for assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "White Sox Outright Carlos Perez". MLB Trade Rumors. January 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "Chieh-Hsien Chen is the WBSC Premier12 2024 MVP". WBSC. November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "Seeing double: Carlos Pérez brothers face off". mlb.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.