Scott’s Scouting Report: Martin Perez
Name: Martin Perez
Born: April 4th, 1991
Height/Weight: 6’0”/180
Position: LHP
2012 Stats: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP (Triple-A Round Rock)
Career Stats: 419 1/3 IP, 450 H, 173 BB, 396 K, 4.19 ERA, 1.486 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.29 K/BB
Game Scouted: Round Rock vs Iowa on Friday April 6th, 2012
Analysis: Perez brought three pitches into the game: Fastball, Change-up, and Curveball. His fastball looked excellent, it sat in the lower 90s with good sink. His fastball jumped on the hitters out of his hand. He has excellent mechanics with a long stride and a consistent 3/4 arm slot.
He located the fastball fairly well, pounding the lower corners of the zone. He did have a tendency to miss with his fastball low and away when pitching to left handed hitters. Perez challenged hitters multiple times using the fastball as a strikeout pitch. The fastball was an above average pitch and improved control could turn it into a plus pitch. Perez pitches off the fastball with his change-up which is already a plus pitch. The change-up carried a velocity difference from the fast ball of 8-10 MPH. The change up had good movement as well. He used his change-up as his primary off speed offering and hitters were unable to pick up on it all night. All of the hitters were out in front, using off-balanced swings to hit the change-up into the ground for an out. Perez’s curveball was not used very often and he seemed to lack confidence in it. In total I believe just 5 of his 70 pitches were his curveball. The curve came in at 73-76 MPH and had good break, not only breaking down late, but also moving from right to left from the hitters perspective. From the hitters perspective it wasn’t a true 1 to 7 break, more like a 1:30 to 7:45 if you will. Of the five curves Perez threw two were buried in the dirt, overthrown really, one that was hit for a double, one was taken for a ball that was borderline, and one that he hung middle-middle to Anthony Rizzo that should have ended up in the seats. Instead Rizzo got his bat head just under the pitch and sent a towering fly ball to center field. Perez used the curveball predominately in 0-0 or 1-1 counts, never trying to make it a strikeout pitch, but rather just keep hitters off balance with it. He didn’t seem to have control of the offering and presently it is an average to slightly below average pitch that has room to grow. If he can be more confident with it and control it better, it could become an above average to above average pitch. The good news about Perez’s lack of control at times is that when he did miss, it was in the dirt, aside from the one hanging curve. His sequencing was good and he commonly threw fastballs when he was ahead in the count, and change-ups in hitter’s count. Flipping every now and again to keep hitters honest and not sitting on one pitch or another. Perez seemed very calm on the mound and even after allowing a run scoring double, he had the presence of mind to back-up home plate and catch a runner trying to take an extra base on an errant throw from the relay man.
Future: Perez has been considered a disappointment by some for his career numbers despite his raw skills. It is tough for me to understand this as he reached Triple-A last season as a 20 year old. There are growing pains with young players, and before he has physically matured Perez has quality skills. Through time he will gain better feel for his three pitches and gain better control because of it. The curveball is behind the other two offerings right now, Perez must work to close the gap before he reaches the major league level. While the change-up is an excellent pitch, he cannot make it through a major league lineup two, three, or four times with just the change-up keeping hitters honest.
Grades
Fastball: 60
Change-up: 65
Curve: 47
Control: 50
Delivery: 65
Present Overall: 50
Future Overall: 60
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