Cionel Félix Pérez Viera (born April 21, 1996) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). In 2016 he signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent. Perez made his MLB debut in 2018 for the Astros. He has also played for the Cincinnati Reds.

Cionel Pérez
Baltimore Orioles – No. 58
Pitcher
Born: (1996-04-21) April 21, 1996 (age 28)
Havana, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 11, 2018, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record15–6
Earned run average3.80
Strikeouts197
Teams

Career

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Houston Astros

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Pérez played two seasons for Matanzas of the Cuban National Series. In September 2016, he signed a deal worth $5.15 million with the Houston Astros as an international free agent.[1] The contract was voided in October due an issue in his physical.[2] On December 9, Pérez agreed to a new deal with the Astros worth $2 million.[3][4]

Pérez made his professional debut with the Single–A Quad Cities River Bandits in 2017. He was later that season promoted to the High–A Buies Creek Astros and Double–A Corpus Christi Hooks. 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.[5][6] The Astros added Pérez to their 40-man roster after the season, in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[7] Pérez made his Major League debut on July 11, 2018.[8] In 2019, he played for the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Astros, High–A Fayetteville Woodpeckers, and Triple–A Round Rock Express, going 3–1 with a 4.94 ERA and 58 strikeouts over 54+23 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 6+13 innings of work.[9]

Cincinnati Reds

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On January 23, 2021, the Astros traded Pérez to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Luke Berryhill.[10] Pérez made 25 appearances for Cincinnati in 2021, compiling a 1–2 record and 6.38 ERA with 25 strikeouts across 24 innings pitched.[11]

Baltimore Orioles

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The Baltimore Orioles claimed Pérez off waivers on November 24, 2021. On June 12, 2022, Pérez recorded his first career save in a 10–7 win over the Kansas City Royals.[12] Pérez made 66 appearances for Baltimore in 2022, pitching to a stellar 7–1 record and 1.40 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 57+23 innings pitched.

Personal life

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Perez is married and has two children.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Astros agree to terms with Cuban lefthander Cionel Perez". Houston Chronicle. September 12, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  2. ^ "Astros void deal with Cuban arm Cionel Perez". MLB.com. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  3. ^ "Astros, Cuban lefty Cionel Perez agree to deal". MLB.com. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  4. ^ "Astros sign Cuban pitcher Cionel Perez to revised deal". Houston Chronicle. December 10, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  5. ^ "Cionel Perez Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Astros top pitching prospects Perez, Whitley headed to Hooks". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "Astros protect two prospects from Rule 5 Draft". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  8. ^ "Astros Balls & Strikes: Cionel Perez makes his MLB debut". Houston Chronicle. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  9. ^ Polishuk, Mark (April 20, 2023). "Reds Acquire Cionel Perez From Astros". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Sheldon, Mark (January 23, 2021). "Reds trade for LHP Cionel Pérez from Astros". mlb.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Cionel Pérez 2021 pitching Stats Per Game - MLB". espn.com. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Orioles' Cionel Pérez: Picks up first save". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "Cionel Pérez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
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