Santiago Pérez (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Santiago Alberto Pérez is a former utility player
in Major League Baseball
. Pérez was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He attended Liceo Victor Estrella High School in Santo Domingo.
Originally signed by the Detroit Tigers
in 1993 as an undrafted
free agent, Pérez never got higher than High-A ball in their organization, although he did display good speed, stealing
17 or more bases three times in the five seasons he was in the Tigers' organization.
On November 20, 1997, Pérez was traded by Detroit along with Rick Greene
and Mike Myers to the Milwaukee Brewers
in exchange for Bryce Florie
. Pérez started off in Double-A baseball in 1998, but by the end of the season he had seen some time in Triple-A. He remained at the Triple-A level until June 3, 2000, which is when he made his big league debut at the age of 24. He went 0-for-2 in his first game, and he started his career off collecting only two hits in his first 11 at-bats. He collected his first hit off of Valerio de los Santos
. His season would not improve much after his poor start, in fact, it would basically stay the same. He ended up hitting .173 in the 52 at-bats that made up his first season. He was however 100% successful in the stolen base category, stealing four bases in four attempts.
In the 2000-2001 offseason, the Brewers sent Pérez with a player to be named later to the San Diego Padres
for Brandon Kolb
and a player to be named later. The two players to be named would end up being Will Cunnane
from the Padres and minor leaguer Chad Green
from the Brewers.
Although Pérez was with a new team, his luck did not improve much. He played 43 games with the Padres in 2001, coming to the plate 81 times. He was involved in A. J. Burnett
's no-hitter in 2001, obviously on the losing side. He went 0-for-1 (he struck out). Overall, he collected 16 hits for a .198 batting average in 2001-a slight improvement over the previous season, but still a poor average. July 1, 2001, would end up being Pérez's last game in the majors. He collected a walk in his only plate appearance in that game.
Although his big league career was over, his professional career was not. In fact, he was bouncing around the minor leagues as recently as 2005, and in 28 games with Double-A Frisco in 2004, he hit .387.
Even though his career batting statistics were nothing near stellar-overall, he hit .188 with no home runs and six RBI in 133 career at-bats he was still a fairly valuable asset to have on the team, due to his defensive versatility. Not only did he play in all three outfield spots in his career, he also spent time at shortstop and second base. His career fielding percentage was .926.
He wore two numbers in his career - 57 and 1.
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Pérez was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He attended Liceo Victor Estrella High School in Santo Domingo.
Originally signed by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1993 as an undrafted
Undrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
free agent, Pérez never got higher than High-A ball in their organization, although he did display good speed, stealing
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
17 or more bases three times in the five seasons he was in the Tigers' organization.
On November 20, 1997, Pérez was traded by Detroit along with Rick Greene
Rick Greene
Richard Douglas Greene Jr. is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher who appeared in one game for the Cincinnati Reds in 1999. He was 6'5" tall and he weighed 200 pounds....
and Mike Myers to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in exchange for Bryce Florie
Bryce Florie
Bryce Bettancourt Florie is a minor league pitching coach and former Major League Baseball pitcher....
. Pérez started off in Double-A baseball in 1998, but by the end of the season he had seen some time in Triple-A. He remained at the Triple-A level until June 3, 2000, which is when he made his big league debut at the age of 24. He went 0-for-2 in his first game, and he started his career off collecting only two hits in his first 11 at-bats. He collected his first hit off of Valerio de los Santos
Valerio de los Santos
Valerio Lorenzo de los Santos is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently playing for the independent Long Island Ducks....
. His season would not improve much after his poor start, in fact, it would basically stay the same. He ended up hitting .173 in the 52 at-bats that made up his first season. He was however 100% successful in the stolen base category, stealing four bases in four attempts.
In the 2000-2001 offseason, the Brewers sent Pérez with a player to be named later to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Brandon Kolb
Brandon Kolb
Brandon Charles Kolb is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in and . He attended Monte Vista High School in Danville, California...
and a player to be named later. The two players to be named would end up being Will Cunnane
Will Cunnane
William Joseph Cunnane is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He graduated from Clarkstown High School North in New City, New York in 1992, where he played baseball and ran cross country...
from the Padres and minor leaguer Chad Green
Chad Green
Chad Elton Green is a former switch-hitting, right-handed minor league baseball player. An outfielder, he attended Mentor High School and then the University of Kentucky....
from the Brewers.
Although Pérez was with a new team, his luck did not improve much. He played 43 games with the Padres in 2001, coming to the plate 81 times. He was involved in A. J. Burnett
A. J. Burnett
Allan James "A. J." Burnett is a right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the New York Yankees. Previously, he played for the Florida Marlins and the Toronto Blue Jays...
's no-hitter in 2001, obviously on the losing side. He went 0-for-1 (he struck out). Overall, he collected 16 hits for a .198 batting average in 2001-a slight improvement over the previous season, but still a poor average. July 1, 2001, would end up being Pérez's last game in the majors. He collected a walk in his only plate appearance in that game.
Although his big league career was over, his professional career was not. In fact, he was bouncing around the minor leagues as recently as 2005, and in 28 games with Double-A Frisco in 2004, he hit .387.
Even though his career batting statistics were nothing near stellar-overall, he hit .188 with no home runs and six RBI in 133 career at-bats he was still a fairly valuable asset to have on the team, due to his defensive versatility. Not only did he play in all three outfield spots in his career, he also spent time at shortstop and second base. His career fielding percentage was .926.
He wore two numbers in his career - 57 and 1.