The calendar indicated Memorial Day weekend, but, it was Dia de los Hooks weekend at Corpus Christi’s Whataburger Field, the home of the Houston Astros’ Double-A affiliate. Left-handed starting pitcher Cionel Pérez took both the mound and careful aim. With the first pitch, a loud pop resounded from the impact of the collision of a 97-mile-an-hour fastball with the catcher’s mitt.
If the impact of that one pitch isn’t enough to propel the 5’11”, 170-pound Cuban native onto the fast track to the major leagues, his consistent results will… perhaps sooner rather than later.
Congratulations, Cionel! June 28, the Astros called up Perez from Double-A Corpus Christi to fill the active roster spot created by Carlos Correa’s DL placement.
July 11: Cionel was promoted again, as reliever Ken Giles was demoted to AAA Fresno. Look for Cionel to get actual game time on this longer stay, as his late-June call-up was just for a couple of days, as it turned out.
That Friday, May 25 game ended in an eventual extra-inning 2-1 loss for the Hooks, but Pérez, the reigning Texas League Pitcher of the Week (his second such award, after a mid-April nod), did more than his share in 4.2 innings, matching a career-high 10 strikeouts, striking out at least one in each inning. The 22-year-old yielded three hits, two walks, and an earned run. His 1.88 ERA is second in the Texas League.
Perez, the Astros’ No. 6 prospect (according to MLB Pipeline), has struck out 71 batters in 57.1 innings for the Hooks, going 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 14 games (10 starts). Since making his professional debut last year, he’s struck out 154 batters and walked just 48 in 151 innings.
Related: Pérez, Taylor Jones Lead Gang of 8 Hooks to Texas League All-Star Game
Cionel Felix (Viera) Pérez
Originally signed to a $5.15 million deal with Houston, the Havana native’s contract was voided due to medical concerns about his left elbow, and he was re-signed for $2 million in December 2016.
Pérez was 6-4 with a 3.90 ERA in 17 games for Houston’s Class A Quad Cities and Advanced-A Buies Creek to begin 2017, and finished up the year at Corpus, after his call-up (with top Astros prospect, Forrest Whitley) in mid-August. Pérez finished the season with 83 strikeouts, 27 walks, and a combined 4.13 ERA in 93.2 innings.
Pérez, with a spot on Houston’s 40-man roster (to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft), is the organization’s sixth-ranked overall prospect (and third-ranked pitching prospect), according to MLB Pipeline.
Getting Houston’s Attention
Pérez pitched as a 17-year-old (2013-2014) for Cocodrilos (Crocodiles) de Matanzas in his native country’s top league, Cuban National Series, working to a 2.44 ERA with a topsy-turvy 29 walks to 25 strikeouts in 51.2 innings, before he figured it out the next year.
As an 18-year-old, Pérez led the CNS with a 2.06 ERA in 87.1 IP, adding 75 strikeouts to just 32 walks during the 2014-15 season, before defecting in May 2015.
While his fastball ran around 90 mph in Cuba, Pérez routinely, now, sits at 90-93 mph and peaks at 96 and 97, with sink that generates ground balls (think Dallas Keuchel with gas). With work, his slider has gotten harder and tighter, working in the low 80s, with a changeup that has shown improvement, as well.
An early MLB scouting report encapsulated Cionel’s approach this way: “Pérez has lived up to his reputation for advanced pitchability. He’s not physical, but has a quick arm and not much effort in his delivery, which he repeats well. While the elbow issue and his diminutive build raise questions about his durability as a starter, his efficiency helps his cause.”
Pérez got a taste of the Houston clubhouse during 2018 Spring Training, pitching five innings in four appearances. He gave up five hits, one walk, an earned run, while striking out two.
In fact, Pérez has picked up a little offseason place to hang his cleats in Royal Palm Beach (a former Seminole hunting ground), 12 miles due west of Houston’s spring complex at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
The Future is Now…Or, Maybe a Little Later
While the Cionel train appears to be moving rapidly, with a promotion to Triple-A Fresno a possibility around July, the temptation for Houston to leapfrog Pérez into Minute Maid Park might be a reality, as well. After all, both Lance McCullers, Jr. and since-jettisoned Vince Velasquez were promoted directly to Houston from Double-A.
Conversely, having just turned 22, with an admittedly short timeline of established consistency, the Astros may be swayed to take a more patient approach.
Hunter Atkins seems to lean toward the latter position. In the March 7, 2018, Houston Chronicle, the reporter cast a little shade in the direction of the fledgling pitcher: “Pérez, who [turned] 22 in April, had inspired brief intrigue at camp, but he appears far from developing stateside into the once promising prospect that shined in the Cuba National Series in 2014.”
Depending on the July 31 trade deadline acquisition of bullpen help, if any, Houston may attempt, Pérez could be on the radar for promotion for late-inning lefty situational work. Granted, that would impede his continued regular progress and steady starting at either Corpus or Fresno, but stranger things have happened.
Related: Perez’ Hooks Teammate Randy Cesar Lets Bat Do The Talking and
Perez’ Cuban Hooks Teammate Lorenzo Quintana Nears 30 and Astros Promotion
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