Houston Astros to Sign Cuban Pitcher Cionel Perez
By David Hill
The Houston Astros are set to sign one of the top international prospects in Cuban lefthanded pitcher Cionel Perez.
There is nothing quite like the allure of a young international free agent, especially coming over from Cuba. There are few statistics available, and scouting reports are often incomplete, given the relative isolation of the baseball crazed nation. What little information we have tends to come from international tournaments and from those who help get the players out of the country.
That intrigue is the same for Cionel Perez, who is set to sign with the Houston Astros for a $5.15 Million signing bonus. Even though he has not pitched in two seasons after defecting from Cuba, the left handed pitcher was considered to be the fourth best international prospect according to MLB.com.
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Perez is certainly an intriguing prospect, and has even been compared to a smaller version of Cole Hamels. The 5’11”, 170 lb pitcher already has a fastball that can hit the mid 90’s, and is expected to add a couple of miles per hour as he continues to grow into his frame. With a slider and a change that are considered to have improved, and could be solid offerings, it is easy to see why the Astros had to fight off other squads for his services.
There are some questions as to where Perez would end up. If his slider and change continue to develop, he is considered a potential middle of the rotation starter. Otherwise, he could be a dominant power lefty in the bullpen, firing his fastball while spotting his other pitches.
The Astros can also afford to be patient with Perez. He has not pitched in almost two years, and may take some time to get back into baseball shape. Perez is also likely to begin his career somewhere in A-ball, but, if he continues to show improvement with his secondary pitches, could advance another level or two by the end of the season.
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With the Houston Astros already over their international signing allotment, Cionel Perez is quite the costly acquisition. However, a power lefty with a fastball that could eventually reach the upper 90s is a valuable commodity. If he continues to develop as expected, the Astros may have gotten a deal.