Michael Pérez (born August 7, 1992) is a Puerto Rican 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 ...

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catc ...

who is a free agent. 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

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

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

, and

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

Career

Pérez attended the Colegio Vocacional Para Adultos in

San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan ( , ; Spanish for "Saint John the Baptist, John") is the capital city and most populous Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in the Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the ...

Arizona Diamondbacks

The

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

selected Pérez in the fifth round of the

2011 Major League Baseball draft The 2011 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2011, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gerrit Cole out of the University of California, Los Angeles, with the firs ...

. Pérez played for the Diamondbacks organization for eight years, reaching Triple-A.

Tampa Bay Rays

On July 25, 2018, the Diamondbacks traded Pérez and Brian Shaffer to the

for

Matt Andriese Matthew Lee Andriese (; born August 28, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red S ...

. With

Wilson Ramos Wilson Abraham Ramos Campos (born August 10, 1987), nicknamed "the Buffalo", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelph ...

injured, the Rays promoted him to the major leagues the same day, and he made his major league debut the next day against 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 ...

. He got his first hit, a double, off of

Alex Cobb Alexander Miller Cobb (born October 7, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, San Fr ...

that night. On August 31, Perez was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring and would not play for the remainder of the season. Perez ended the season slashing .284/.304/.392 with one

home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...

and 11 runs batted in. Over the next two seasons, Pérez slashed .185/.277/.269 over 60 games.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On October 30, 2020, the

claimed Pérez off of waivers. Pérez played in 70 games for Pittsburgh in 2021, hitting just .143/.221/.290 with 7 home runs and 21 RBI. The Pirates designated Pérez for assignment after the season on November 19, 2021. Pérez cleared waivers on November 24, and was assigned outright to the Triple-A

Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory ...

. The Pirates promoted Pérez back to the major leagues on May 7, 2022. On June 30, Pérez hit three home runs in a game against the

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

. It was his first career game with multiple home runs, as he went 4-for-4 with 5 RBI. He was designated for assignment on July 22.

New York Mets

Pérez was traded to the

on July 23, 2022, in exchange for cash considerations. He made his Mets debut as a mid-game defensive replacement on August 15, as James McCann moved from catcher to first base. Perez collected his first hit as a Met on August 20, a 2-RBI single against the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

. In 6 games for New York, Pérez went 2-for-14 (.143) with 3 RBI and 2 walks. Following the season, Pérez was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

on October 7. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A on October 11. He elected free agency following the season on November 10. On January 26, 2023, Pérez re-signed with the Mets organization on a minor league contract. He played in 19 games for the Triple-A

Syracuse Mets The Syracuse Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Syracuse, New York, and play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium, which ope ...

, hitting .153/.261/.254 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI. On May 10, his contract was selected to the active roster. In his season debut, Pérez became only the third Met in franchise history (

Xavier Nady Xavier Clifford Nady VI (; born November 14, 1978) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman. Nady played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Ari ...

and

Darryl Strawberry Darryl Eugene Strawberry Sr. (born March 12, 1962) is an American former professional baseball right fielder who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Throughout his career, Strawberry was one of the most feared sluggers in the sport ...

) to go 4-for-4 in his first game of the season. He played in only three games for the Mets on the year, going 4–for–8 (.500). Following the season on October 20, Pérez was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Syracuse, but refused the assignment and elected free agency on October 24.

Baltimore Orioles

On December 30, 2023, Pérez signed a minor league contract with the

. In 21 games for 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 ...

, he batted .221/.294/.325 with two home runs and 13 RBI.

Seattle Mariners

On May 22, 2024, Pérez and Mike Baumann were traded to the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

in exchange for Blake Hunt. In 16 games for the Triple–A

Tacoma Rainiers The Tacoma Rainiers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Tacoma, Washington, and play their home games at Cheney Stadium, ...

, he batted .177/.300/.392 with three home runs and eight RBI. Pérez was released by the Mariners organization on July 9.

Arizona Diamondbacks (second stint)

On July 31, 2024, Pérez signed a minor league contract with the

. In 24 appearances for the Triple-A

Reno Aces The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, w ...

, he batted .354/.444/.622 with four home runs and 13 RBI. Perez elected free agency following the season on November 4. On May 5, 2025, Pérez re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a minor league contract. In 19 appearances for Reno, he slashed .273/.351/.424 with two home runs and nine RBI. Pérez was released by the Diamondbacks organization on June 14.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2025-06-14

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perez, Michael 1992 births Living people Águilas Cibaeñas players Arizona League Diamondbacks players Atenienses de Manatí (baseball) players Gigantes de Carolina (baseball) players Indianapolis Indians players Jackson Generals (Southern League) players Kane County Cougars players Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente catchers Major League Baseball catchers Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico 21st-century Puerto Rican sportsmen Missoula Osprey players Mobile BayBears players New York Mets players Norfolk Tides players People from Cataño, Puerto Rico Pittsburgh Pirates players Puerto Rican expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Reno Aces players Salt River Rafters players Senadores de San Juan players South Bend Silver Hawks players Syracuse Mets players Tacoma Rainiers players Tampa Bay Rays players Toros del Este players Visalia Rawhide players