Perez gets chance he needed with Tigers' chain
- col-aaron-dorksen
- April 20, 2022
- 1137
A few thoughts from the week in sports …
“You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need.” —The Rolling Stones
The theme song for 2014 Orrville graduate JT Perez’s baseball career could be “You can’t always get what you want.”
Perez, a 6-foot-4 left-hander who helped the Red Riders to the Div. III state baseball tournament as a senior, is closer to making a Major League Baseball roster than any Wayne County player since Rittman alum Matt Beaumont reached Triple-A for the Angels in 2000.
After a whirlwind start to 2022 that saw Perez signed by the Detroit Tigers organization in early February, Perez dressed for five spring training games for the Tigers and just missed being put into a game for the parent club.
Perez, 26, then opened the season on the Triple-A Toledo roster on April 4, but after two games without seeing action, Mud Hens manager Lloyd McClendon informed him he was being sent to Double-A Erie. Perez entered the week with a 2.08 ERA in 4 1/3 innings pitched as a reliever, striking out three and walking two for the Sea Wolves.
Throughout Perez’s baseball career, he’s experienced highs and lows but keeps on keeping on. To reach his dream of pitching in the big leagues, he’s learned to roll with the punches, like his short-lived stay at Triple-A.
“Coming into this season, I was told to be ready where my feet are,” Perez said, understanding he’d likely move around within the organization. “I just want to be a part of this organization's success and help them win a championship.”
Perez helped a senior-loaded Orrville team coached by Scott Marshall reach the Final Four in 2014. However, the Riders were no-hit by phenom Cameron Varga of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, who was drafted the next day in the second round by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Perez went to the University of Cincinnati and compiled a 15-19 record, making 41 starts in 62 appearances over four years. He posted a 3.59 ERA with 202 strikeouts and 87 walks in 283 1/3 innings pitched before being drafted in the 29th round by the Minnesota Twins in 2018.
After two seasons pitching for the Twins in rookie ball and Single-A, COVID hit, and MLB teams disbanded many of their Minor League teams. Perez was among hundreds of players who were released, and he didn’t play in 2020.
It wasn’t what Perez wanted at the time, but he got what he needed after being offered a spot with the Lake Erie Crushers independent team in 2021. He pitched well enough to impress the Tigers.
Varga, who looked like a can’t miss prospect, has been out of baseball for six years after suffering arm problems.
“The path to pro ball isn't always linear,” said Perez, the son of Dave and Julie Perez. “You can come from all over the world, big city or small, play Div. I or JUCO, get drafted No. 1 overall or go unsigned, bounce around different leagues, et cetera, but believing in yourself and putting in the hard work is what will take you a long way.”
Getting released by the Twins wasn’t what Perez wanted at the time, but it was a blessing in disguise because they owned his rights for seven years.
On the first day of Tigers training camp at Lakeland, Florida, director of pitching Gabe Ribas gave a talk about opportunities and introduced Perez in front of the whole camp. About a week later, he found himself stretching next to future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera.
In his last spring training game dressing for the Tigers’ MLB club, Perez was told he would go in to pitch if Detroit was able to score. The Tigers were blanked, though, and his chance didn’t come.
An old adage in baseball is you can never have enough pitching. Left-handers are an even more valuable commodity, and Perez is throwing better than ever. His fastball has topped out at 96 mph, and he’s consistently around 91-94 on the gun, to go along with a curveball, changeup, slider and sinker.
Dave Perez said JT has kind of flown under the radar.
“The thing about JT is nothing gets to him,” Dave Perez said. “He told me once, 'Dad, there’s nothing that hasn’t happened to me in baseball, so I’m OK if something goes wrong. I’ll just come back strong the next pitch.'”
The last Wayne County product to play in the majors also was from Orrville. Mike Birkbeck, who’s the associate head coach at Kent State, pitched for the Brewers (1986-89) and Mets (1992, 1995).
If Perez remains with Erie, area fans will have the opportunity to see him pitch close to home. The Sea Wolves will visit Akron for a five-game series May 10-15.
Perez is as humble as he is talented, which makes him even easier to root for.
“I certainly have a lot of people to thank for helping me get to where I am today,” he said. “Without the support from my parents, my brother, my fiance, my teammates and numerous coaches I've had throughout the years, none of this would be possible.”
Because of the early season shuffling, JT arrived in Toledo too late for the Mud Hens team photo and then just missed the picture for the Sea Wolves.
It was no big deal. Being so close to realizing his MLB dream, team pictures aren’t what Perez is focusing on. He’s closer than ever to getting what he’s always wanted most — a spot in the Big Leagues.
Parting shots
Gabe Snyder, a 2013 West Holmes graduate and Wright State alum, was Perez's roommate in Single-A baseball for the Twins in 2019. The slugging first baseman was drafted by the Twins in the 21st round in 2018.
Snyder, 27, was released by the Twins but is now playing independent baseball for the Sioux City (Iowa) Explorers.
Perez recalled being a Minor League roommate with his one-time Ohio Cardinal Conference rival.
Luke Burch (Hiland/Ashland/Kent State) reached Double-A with Erie and batted .323 in 43 games in 2019, which was his last year in pro ball.
—Three locals starred in the Ohio Dominican spring football game on April 11. Andrew Wolf (Hillsdale) caught six passes for 84 yards while Dylan Dagley (Wooster) had two interceptions. Austin Davis (Triway) also played well and is coming off a season in which he had 43 receptions for 593 yards and three TDs.