Cionel Félix Pérez Viera (born April 21, 1996) is a Cuban professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

in the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

organization. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...

and

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

. He signed with the Astros as an international free agent in 2016, and made his MLB debut with them in 2018.

Career

Houston Astros

Pérez played two seasons for

Matanzas Matanzas (Cuban ; ) is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas Province, Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-American religions, Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Mat ...

of the

Cuban National Series The Cuban National Series (, or SNB) is a domestic baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the National Series is a part of the Cuban baseball league system. For most ...

. In September 2016, he signed a deal worth $5.15 million with the

as an international free agent. The contract was voided in October due an issue in his physical. On December 9, Pérez agreed to a new deal with the Astros worth $2 million. Pérez made his professional debut with the Single–A

Quad Cities River Bandits The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium) in Davenport, Iowa, on ...

in 2017. He was later that season promoted to the High–A

Buies Creek Astros The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and play their home games at Segra Stadium. From 2017 to 201 ...

and Double–A

Corpus Christi Hooks The Corpus Christi Hooks are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team is owned b ...

. In 21 total games (16 starts) between the three clubs, he posted a 6-4 record and 4.13 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. The Astros added Pérez to their 40-man roster after the season, in order to protect him from the

Rule 5 draft The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...

. Pérez made his Major League debut on July 11, 2018. In 2019, he played for the rookie–level

Gulf Coast League Astros The Florida Complex League Astros are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to the 2021 season, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Astros. The team plays it ...

, High–A

Fayetteville Woodpeckers The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and play their home games at Segra Stadium. From 2017 to 201 ...

, and Triple–A

Round Rock Express The Round Rock Express are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers. They are located in Round Rock, Texas, and play their home ...

, going 3–1 with a 4.94 ERA and 58 strikeouts over innings. Pérez appeared in 5 games for the Astros in 2019, going 1–1 with a 10.00 ERA and 7 strikeouts over 9 innings. In 2020 for Houston, Pérez made 7 appearances, registering a 2.84 ERA with 8 strikeouts in innings of work.

Cincinnati Reds

On January 23, 2021, the Astros traded Pérez to the

in exchange for Luke Berryhill. Pérez made 25 appearances for Cincinnati in 2021, compiling a 1–2 record and 6.38 ERA with 25 strikeouts across 24 innings pitched.

Baltimore Orioles

On November 24, 2021, Pérez was claimed off waivers by the

. On June 12, 2022, Pérez recorded his first career save in a 10–7 win over the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

. Pérez made 66 appearances for Baltimore in 2022, pitching to a stellar 7–1 record and 1.40 ERA with 55 strikeouts in innings pitched. Perez appeared in 65 contests for the Orioles during the 2023 campaign, compiling a 4-2 record and 3.54 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 3 saves across innings of work. He took a step back in 2024, working to a 4.53 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 2 saves across 62 relief appearances. Pérez made 19 appearances for Baltimore in 2025, but struggled to an 8.31 ERA with 21 strikeouts across innings pitched. Pérez was designated for assignment by the Orioles following the promotion of

Yaramil Hiraldo Yaramil Junior Hiraldo (born December 31, 1995) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). Career Arizona Diamondbacks On June 5, 2018, Hiraldo signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an ...

on May 24, 2025. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's loc ...

on May 31.

Personal life

Perez is married and has two children.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perz, Cionel 1996 births Living people Baltimore Orioles players Baseball players from Havana Bowie Baysox players Buies Creek Astros players Cincinnati Reds players Cocodrilos de Matanzas players Corpus Christi Hooks players Cuban League players Cuban expatriate baseball players in the United States Fayetteville Woodpeckers players Fresno Grizzlies players Gulf Coast Astros players Houston Astros players Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from Cuba 21st-century Cuban sportsmen Norfolk Tides players Quad Cities River Bandits players Round Rock Express players