Rangers Top Prospect LHP Martin Perez: Promoted to Triple-A
By Aaron Somers
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the Round Rock Express, this month they have already had both Leonys Martin and Guilder Rodriguez promoted from Double-A Frisco. Today the Rangers announced that their top prospect Martin Perez would be joining them. This past Sunday Perez was featured in the MLB Futures game and is scheduled to start on Saturday at Memphis.
After a tough 2010, Perez has rebounded in 2011. Currently he is 4 -2 posted an ERA of 3.16. Rangers’ General Manager Jon Daniels had this to say about the move –
"“He’s minimized damage and hasn’t been shaken on the mound by those things. He had been there a year, year and a half, and it was time for a challenge. He’s done what we asked him to do at Double-A and it was time for him to challenge himself.”"
The Pacific Coast League is filled with talented hitters and should be an excellent test for Perez. He’s done best when he can keep his pitches low in the zone, and operates an above average fastball and changeup. He also has a good curveball, but when I saw him on July 3rd he didn’t use it much. In that particular game he didn’t have his best stuff – but kept his team in the game, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits in five innings.
I don’t expect the Rangers will call him up this year, but he stands a chance of joining the guys in Arlington in 2012.