Joe

Perez

Perez hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since back in 2022 when he got into exactly one contest for the Astros, who took him in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft. The 25-year-old infielder spent last year at Double-A Altoona in Pittsburgh’s system, batting .230/.297/.374 with six homers and two steals in 259 plate appearances. He’ll head to Chicago as extra organizational depth.

Perez got into exactly one game for the Astros back in 2022 and hasn’t gotten back to the majors ever since. The 24-year-old former second-round pick from the 2017 MLB Draft signed a minor league deal with Pittsburgh last August and posted a lackluster .640 OPS with six homers and two steals in 69 games this season between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis.

The headliner here is obviously Skenes, the top-overall selection from the 2023 MLB Draft. The 21-year-old hurler fired three scoreless innings in Grapefruit League action, posting a 1.00 WHIP and 3/0 K/BB ratio. No matter how well he pitched in the spring though, it was always extremely unlikely that he would crack the team’s Opening Day rotation. Skenes making his big league debut in 2024 however, is much less of a long shot — it’s a question of when, not if. He should be rostered in deeper mixed leagues as a speculative stash candidate heading into the season.

The 21-year-old top prospect wound up making five appearances in his first professional season — posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 10/2 K/BB ratio over 6 2/3 innings across three minor league levels. He’s a longshot to crack the Pirates’ Opening Day rotation, but don’t be surprised if we see him at some point in 2024. The 12 other players invited to major league spring training were INF Andres Alvarez, C Carter Bins, INF Jack Brannigan, RHP Bubba Chandler, OF Matt Gorski, C Abrahan Gutierrez, RHP Thomas Harrington, INF Termarr Johnson, RHP Jared Jones, INF Joe Perez, LHP Anthony Solameto and RHP Sean Sullivan.

Perez heads to Pittsburgh just a few days after being released by the Astros. The 24-year-old former second-round pick got into just one career game for Houston last season. He’ll provide some extra upper-level minor league depth for the Pirates moving forward.

Houston has opted to cut ties with Perez, who was selected in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft, and wound up appearing in just one game for the organization in the big leagues.

Perez was designated for assignment with Justin Verlander returning to the organization. The 23-year-old passed through waivers unclaimed and will stick around at the Triple-A level, where he’s hit .255 with 10 home runs and a .727 OPS over 87 games this season.

The Astros’ needed to free up a spot on their 40-man roster for Justin Verlander’s triumphant return to Houston and unfortunately Perez was the odd-man out this time around. It seems likely that the 23-year-old will pass through waivers unclaimed and continue to function as depth for the Astros.

Perez will spend the remainder of spring training on the minor league side of camp. The 23-year-old infielder got into one game last year for the Astros and remains on their 40-man roster.

Perez was up briefly while Yordan Alvarez was on the COVID-19 injured list but will head back to the minors upon Alvarez’s return. He struck out in his lone plate appearance.