Sometimes, it takes a change of scenery for a player to reach their potential. An organization may not be a good fit for any number of reasons, or the pressure of living up to expectations may weigh too heavily on the player. The Cincinnati Reds are hoping that a change of scenery will make a tremendous difference with Cionel Perez.
On Saturday, the Reds acquired the Cuban left hander from the Astros, sending minor league catcher Luke Berryhill to Houston.
Welcome to Reds Country, LHP Cionel Pérez!
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) January 23, 2021
The #Reds today acquired Pérez from the Astros in exchange for minor league C Luke Berryhill. The 40-man roster is now at 37. pic.twitter.com/s7RSU8gssa
Cincinnati Reds take flier on electric arm of Cionel Perez
At one point, Perez was considered one of the better pitching prospects in Cuba. He signed for a $2 million signing bonus in December 2016 after his previous deal was voided for medical concerns. Nonetheless, Perez rose through the Astros farm system quickly, reaching AAA in 2018 and debuting in the majors the following year.
However, Perez was never really able to establish himself as a major league option. He was frequently shuttled between AAA and the Astros bullpen, not being able to truly acclimate to the majors. Over his 26.2 innings over the past three seasons, he has posted a 5.74 ERA and a 1.463 WHiP, striking out 27 batters with 15 walks.
There is no questioning his stuff. Perez has a fastball that sits in the mid 90s and a sweeping slider, both of which draw plenty of whiffs. The biggest issue is that Perez has struggled with his command, with a 5.1 BB/9 rate during his career. He has also struggled against right handed hitters, but as he also has a changeup that was considered to be a solid offering when he signed, it is possible that he can find a weapon to use to alleviate those problems.
Nonetheless, Perez is going to get his chance to prove that he can be a viable major leaguer. Amir Garrett is the only other lefty reliever on the Reds’ 40 man roster, which puts Perez in a key spot in the bullpen pecking order. If the Reds are going to contend, they will need him to step up in their bullpen and take on a significant role.
Cionel Perez is getting his best chance to prove himself in the majors. If he can harness his command, he could be a factor in the Cincinnati Reds bullpen.