Carlos Pérez (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Carlos Gross Pérez is a former pitcher
in Major League Baseball
and the brother of former major league players Melido Pérez
and Pascual Pérez
.
as an amateur free agent in . After being an all-star pitcher in his debut season in , Pérez's career looked extremely promising. However, he soon suffered an untimely and devastating injury which forced him to miss the entire 1996 season
. After rehabilitation, he re-joined the Expos in but still displayed steady showings of his all-star form. After several productive months into the 1998 season
, Pérez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
on July 31 along with Hiram Bocachica
and Mark Grudzielanek
for Peter Bergeron
, Wilton Guerrero
, Ted Lilly
, and Jonathan Tucker.
By the time he became a Dodger, his once likely potential for being a dominant left-handed major league pitcher was quickly slipping away. Frustration grew and Pérez pitched his two worst seasons in (2-10 in only 16 starts) and he was religated to the bullpen (after an entire career as a starter). Many fans remember a somewhat famous outburst by Pérez while in the dugout
immediately after being removed from a game by his manager in Dodger Stadium
. Pérez, fuming over a poor performance, proceeded to passionately destroy a water cooler with a baseball bat
for several moments (video clips of it are still played on sports television networks when topics relating to "athlete outbursts" occur). His performance soon thereafter, coupled with a legal issue stemming from an airplane flight in which a flight attendant
accused Pérez of choking, threatening, and causing injury to her, forced him to an early exit from baseball.
Pérez may best be known for being a highly animated player, especially when he was on the mound. Beginning in his rookie year, after every strikeout he recorded (and sometimes even after individual strikes), Pérez would make spastic movements; usually flailing an arm into the air while crouching very low to the ground and hopping in a semicircle (in the case of a strikeout, Pérez would react in unity with the umpire
who was signaling the strikeout motion). Sometimes batters took personal offense to it while others realized or knew that it was just part of his routine.
.
/rookie): Gulf Coast Expos (Montreal/rookie): Sumter (Montreal/A): Rockford (Montreal/A): Burlington
(Montreal/A) and San Bernardino
(Montreal/A+): Harrisburg
(Montreal/AA) and Ottawa
(Montreal/AAA): Salt Lake City
(Montreal/AAA): Gulf Coast Expos (Montreal/rookie): Albuquerque
(Los Angeles Dodgers
/AAA): Las Vegas
(Los Angeles/AAA)
Perez has gone on to play in his native Dominican Republic, to play winter ball, including the Caribbean World Series (2009) as well as the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
(10-8, 3.69 ERA
): Montreal Expos (12-13, 3.88 ERA): Montreal Expos (7-10, 3.75 ERA) and Los Angeles Dodgers
(4-4, 3.24 ERA): Los Angeles Dodgers (2-10, 7.43 ERA): Los Angeles Dodgers (5-8, 5.56 ERA)
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
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...
and the brother of former major league players Melido Pérez
Melido Pérez
Mélido Turpen Gross Pérez , is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher from through for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees. He made his major league debut for the Kansas City Royals on September 4, 1987. In that game, Pérez pitched seven innings of shutout...
and Pascual Pérez
Pascual Pérez (baseball)
Pascual Gross Perez was a right-handed baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees....
.
Biography
Pérez signed with the Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
as an amateur free agent in . After being an all-star pitcher in his debut season in , Pérez's career looked extremely promising. However, he soon suffered an untimely and devastating injury which forced him to miss the entire 1996 season
1996 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves ; John Wetteland, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Bernie Williams**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Javy López...
. After rehabilitation, he re-joined the Expos in but still displayed steady showings of his all-star form. After several productive months into the 1998 season
1998 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Greg Vaughn all hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break and engage in a historic chase for Roger Maris's single-season record of 61 home runs...
, Pérez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on July 31 along with Hiram Bocachica
Hiram Bocachica
Hiram Gabriel Bocachica Colon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is 5'11" and weighs around 195 pounds.-Major league career:...
and Mark Grudzielanek
Mark Grudzielanek
Mark James Grudzielanek is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop. Grudzielanek played six different teams during his 15-season career. He batted and threw right-handed.-Early years:...
for Peter Bergeron
Peter Bergeron
Peter Francis Bergeron is a former professional baseball outfielder. Bergeron appeared 308 Major League games, all of which were played with the Montreal Expos over five different seasons. He was known as primarily being a leadoff hitter, with above average speed and defensive skills...
, Wilton Guerrero
Wilton Guerrero
Wilton Alvaro Guerrero is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Montreal Expos , Cincinnati Reds , and Kansas City Royals ....
, Ted Lilly
Ted Lilly
Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Lilly III , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats and throws left-handed...
, and Jonathan Tucker.
By the time he became a Dodger, his once likely potential for being a dominant left-handed major league pitcher was quickly slipping away. Frustration grew and Pérez pitched his two worst seasons in (2-10 in only 16 starts) and he was religated to the bullpen (after an entire career as a starter). Many fans remember a somewhat famous outburst by Pérez while in the dugout
Dugout (baseball)
In baseball, the dugout is a team's bench area and is located in foul territory between home plate and either first or third base. There are two dugouts, one for the home team and one for the visiting team. In general, the dugout is occupied by all players not prescribed to be on the field at that...
immediately after being removed from a game by his manager in Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
. Pérez, fuming over a poor performance, proceeded to passionately destroy a water cooler with a baseball bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
for several moments (video clips of it are still played on sports television networks when topics relating to "athlete outbursts" occur). His performance soon thereafter, coupled with a legal issue stemming from an airplane flight in which a flight attendant
Flight attendant
Flight attendants or cabin crew are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft.-History:The role of a flight attendant derives from that of similar...
accused Pérez of choking, threatening, and causing injury to her, forced him to an early exit from baseball.
Pérez may best be known for being a highly animated player, especially when he was on the mound. Beginning in his rookie year, after every strikeout he recorded (and sometimes even after individual strikes), Pérez would make spastic movements; usually flailing an arm into the air while crouching very low to the ground and hopping in a semicircle (in the case of a strikeout, Pérez would react in unity with the umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
who was signaling the strikeout motion). Sometimes batters took personal offense to it while others realized or knew that it was just part of his routine.
Minor league career
Pérez played for parts of all but two, ( and ), of his twelve professional baseball seasons in minor league baseballMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
.
Minor league stints
Year: team (organization/level): Dominican Expos (Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
/rookie): Gulf Coast Expos (Montreal/rookie): Sumter (Montreal/A): Rockford (Montreal/A): Burlington
Vermont Lake Monsters
The Vermont Lake Monsters are a minor league baseball team in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League, affiliated with the Oakland Athletics. The team plays its home games at Centennial Field on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington, Vermont...
(Montreal/A) and San Bernardino
Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino
The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino are a minor league baseball team in San Bernardino, California, United States. They are the Class A – Advanced affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and play in the California League...
(Montreal/A+): Harrisburg
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
(Montreal/AA) and Ottawa
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
(Montreal/AAA): Salt Lake City
Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play their home games at Spring Mobile Ballpark, known to fans as the Apiary, which was...
(Montreal/AAA): Gulf Coast Expos (Montreal/rookie): Albuquerque
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
(Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
/AAA): Las Vegas
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
(Los Angeles/AAA)
Perez has gone on to play in his native Dominican Republic, to play winter ball, including the Caribbean World Series (2009) as well as the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Major league career
Pérez played for parts of five seasons in major league baseball with two teams. In his debut season in 1995, he made his first and only all-star appearance.Major league stints
Year: team and selected stats: Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(10-8, 3.69 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
): Montreal Expos (12-13, 3.88 ERA): Montreal Expos (7-10, 3.75 ERA) and Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(4-4, 3.24 ERA): Los Angeles Dodgers (2-10, 7.43 ERA): Los Angeles Dodgers (5-8, 5.56 ERA)
Facts
- Pérez hit four home runs, two triples, and eight doubles in his 250 official MLB at-bats.