Hernan Perez Stats & Scouting Report

AB	269
AVG	.212
OBP	.275
SLG	.39
HR	11

Full name Hernán Alejandro Pérez
Born 03/26/1991 in Villa De Cura, Aragua, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 213 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 06/09/2012

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After signing out of Venezuela at age 16 for $237,000, Perez didn't do anything to distinguish himself in his first four years with the organization. He built upon a 2013 breakout season at Double-A Erie with a solid 2014 at Triple-A Toledo. Perez's tools are nondescript, but he stands out for his smart, heady play in all areas of the game. He drags the bat at times, but he's a line-drive hitter who uses the whole field and makes consistent contact, albeit without much power. Perez would benefit from a more patient hitting approach, for he's susceptible to chasing off the plate. He's an average runner who's a 20-steal threat because of his acumen on the basepaths. Perez played a lot of second base coming up because he was teammates with the more defensively gifted Eugenio Suarez and Dixon Machado, but he showed that he's playable at shortstop, even if his range is a better fit at second base. He's a smooth defender with clean footwork and hands, along with an average, accurate arm. Perez is is blocked by Ian Kinsler, who is signed through 2017, at second base, and by Jose Iglesias (if healthy) at shortstop. Perez's best role is likely as a utility infielder.
Perez signed with the Tigers for $237,000 when the 2007 international signing period opened, then never hit above .270 in any of his first five minor league seasons. Nevertheless, the Tigers summoned him to Detroit in 2012 when Jhonny Peralta went on paternity leave, and he got his first big league hit off Alfredo Simon. Perez broke out in 2013, hitting .300 in the upper minors and spending most of the second half of the season with the big league club. He's a grinder and an instinctive player who endears himself to managers. He has good bat speed with a short, line-drive stroke and keeps the barrel in the zone a long time. He has good plate coverage and uses the whole field. Perez doesn't have much power, expands his strike zone early in the count and doesn't walk much, though he has a good two-strike approach. He's an average runner and an efficient basestealer because he gets good jumps. Perez has split time between second base and shortstop, and most scouts feel he's a better fit at the keystone. He's an athletic player with an average arm, solid range, good actions and is generally sure-handed. The Tigers' offseason trade for second baseman Ian Kinsler puts Perez's role in doubt for 2014. He could play every day at Triple-A Toledo, serve as a utility man or be traded to a team that sees him as an everyday player.
The Tigers immediately signed Perez for $237,000 when the 2007 international signing period opened. After showing little offensively in his first four pro seasons, he batted .302/.318/.397 in the Arizona Fall League in 2011 to earn a spot on 40-man roster. His addition came in handy when Detroit needed him for an emergency callup when Jhonny Peralta went on paternity leave in early June. He's more physical than Eugenio Suarez or Dixon Machado, with a chance to hit for average and the strength for gap power. He doesn't walk much, however, and Perez's other tools will always be ahead of his offense. He can fill in at shortstop but is a better second baseman. His arm strength is also a plus, but he still needs more consistency to be considered an above-average defender. He has quick-twitch athleticism in his tightly wound frame, along with excellent instincts. He has above-average speed and led all Tigers farmhands with 27 steals in 2012. If his bat comes around, Perez could be a nice utility player similar to current Tiger Ramon Santiago.
When the 2007 international signing period opened on July 2, the Tigers immediately signed Perez for $237,000. While he never has produced much at the plate, he showed some improvements last year and batted .302 in the Arizona Fall League. Detroit protected him on its 40-man roster in November. Perez was one of the Midwest League's better hitters in the first half, batting .306/.349/.427 before wearing down afterward. When he's going well, he's a line-drive hitter with gap power. He's not much of a home run threat but has good pop for a middle infielder and doesn't strike out too much. He has fringy speed but can steal a few bases thanks to his instincts. Perez can play shortstop but spent most of 2011 at second base in deference to Dixon Machado at West Michigan. Perez has fine instincts, sure hands and a strong arm. He's not especially rangy, so he's probably a better fit at second base. He'll need to get stronger to handle the grind of a full season. It's hard to project Perez as a big league regular given his modest track record at the plate, but he eventually could fit a utility role. After two years in low Class A, he's ready for Lakeland.

Minor League Top Prospects

A smooth middle infielder with gap power and some speed, Perez played shortstop more often than ever in 2014, appearing in 118 games, after the Tigers called up his Toledo teammate Eugenio Suarez. Perez uses a short, compact, righthanded stroke to make frequent contact, and he has hit the ball hard enough to hit a cumulative .293 at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Only Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Jose Pirela collected more hits than Perez's 157 in the IL this season. Though he has below-average power, Perez will collect his share of "leg" extra-base hits. He isn't overly aggressive at the plate, but he must work the count more to increase his on-base percentage. His average speed is compensated by efficient base-stealing. In the field, Perez employs a solid arm with decent range. His footwork on the double play is a plus, and he projects as a big league utility infielder at worst.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive SS in the International League in 2014

Career Transactions

Louisville Bats placed 3B Hernán Pérez on the full-season injured list.
Louisville Bats placed 3B Hernán Pérez on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 5, 2024.
St. Paul Saints activated 3B Hernán Pérez from the 7-day injured list.
St. Paul Saints sent 3B Hernán Pérez on a rehab assignment to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
St. Paul Saints sent 3B Hernán Pérez on a rehab assignment to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
St. Paul Saints sent 3B Hernán Pérez on a rehab assignment to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
St. Paul Saints placed 3B Hernán Pérez on the 7-day injured list.
St. Paul Saints activated 3B Hernán Pérez.
St. Paul Saints transferred 3B Hernán Pérez to the Development List.
St. Paul Saints transferred 3B Hernán Pérez to the Development List.
3B Hernán Pérez and assigned to Minnesota Twins.
3B Hernán Pérez assigned to St. Paul Saints.
Minnesota Twins signed free agent 3B Hernán Pérez to a minor league contract.
Venezuela activated 3B Hernán Pérez.
3B Hernán Pérez assigned to Venezuela.
3B Hernán Pérez and assigned to Venezuela.