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Texas Rangers: Martín Pérez ready for Team Venezuela WBC start

By Kevin Henry

Sep 16, 2022; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez (54) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2022; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez (54) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
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Glendale, Ariz. — After logging 55 pitches in his final Texas Rangers start before heading to the World Baseball Classic, Martín Pérez is ready to take the mound for Team Venezuela.

After allowing four hits over three innings, including a solo home run by Elvis Andrus of the Chicago White Sox, on Saturday, the 31-year-old southpaw will now head to Miami for WBC competition. Pérez said that he is on track to draw the start on March 11 against the Dominican Republic in one of the most-anticipated pool play games of the tournament, but said is “ready for anything” once he arrives in south Florida.

He will likely have a 65-pitch limit during his outing against the Dominican Republic or whichever team he faces.

“I told them if I’m going to be there, I’m going to start,” Pérez said of his upcoming time with Team Venezuela. “I have to get ready for the season and they told me that was okay.”

Texas Rangers: Martin Perez “feels good” ahead of WBC start for Team Venezuela

Pérez said that he “feels good” and is ready to slot into the Team Venezuela rotation.

“I think I’m now at the point where I can go out there and compete,” Pérez said. “I think all my pitches look good. I just need to play with my strike zone. I think if I’m moving the ball how I want it, it’s going to be a good season for me and the team.”

And while Pérez is focused on the WBC, he is also making sure that what he does during the tournament is preparing him for his duty with the Texas Rangers in the season ahead.

“Just trying to keep my routine,” Pérez said of the days ahead while away from Rangers camp. “That was one of the things that I talked about with the WBC was that if I’m going to be out there, I’m going to have a plan. I told them, ‘The Rangers want me to do this and are you guys okay with that?’ They said it was okay, and I said, ‘Let’s do it.’

“Representing my country and all of the people from Venezuela means a lot to me.”

Pérez is taking plenty of confidence in his pitching and his team’s abilities into the WBC as well.

“I think we have a good team. No more excuses. We have to do our job and I think if we stay together as a team, it’s going to be fun,” Pérez said.

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