White Sox Catcher Carlos Perez Knocks On Door Of MLB

Carlos Perez was in the first wave of spring training roster cuts, but the 25-year-old catcher didn’t move over to minor league camp with his head down.

For the second year in a row, Perez caught the eye of White Sox manager Tony La Russa.

“He’s got a knack,” La Russa said. “I’d like to be his agent.”

Perez has made the most of his consecutive invites to Chicago’s major league camp, showing promise with the bat and glove.

“He’s nearing the point where he can compete for a major league spot,” White Sox assistant general manager/director of player development Chris Getz said. “We believe that as an organization.”

Perez spent most of last season with Double-A Birmingham, hitting .264/.313/.418 in 107 games. The 25-year-old Venezuelan finished up with Triple-A Charlotte and is positioned to open the 2022 season back with the Knights.

Weighing only 160 pounds when he signed with the White Sox in 2014 at age 17, the 5-foot-11 Perez has steadily packed on muscle and is up to 205.

The added strength helped Perez hit 13 home runs for Birmingham last year. Before that, he had seven homers over six seasons in Chicago’s system.

Perez is shooting for 20-25 homers this year.

“I’ve tried to be more aggressive and swing hard every time, no matter if it’s a fastball or breaking ball,” he said. 

Behind the plate, Perez has also caught the organization’s attention. He’s thrown out 39% of basestealers in his career and is athletic enough to play first base when needed.

Perez’s older brother, also named Carlos, is a 31-year-old catcher in the Rockies organization who played parts of four MLB seasons with the Angels, Braves and Rangers.

Following in his footsteps once seemed unlikely, but Chicago’s Carlos Perez has put himself in a good position to make that happen.

“I feel like I can play in the big leagues this year,” Perez said. “I think I’m ready for that.”

 

CHI-LITES

—Ticketed to play for Triple-A Charlotte this season, Yermin Mercedes is likely out until the middle of May with a hamate fracture in his left hand.

—The White Sox claimed Yoan Aybar off waivers from the Yankees. Pitching for Double-A Hartford in the Rockies system last season, the lefthander was 2-6, 6.22 in 49 relief appearances.