The New York Mets signed free agent second baseman Jairo Perez to a minor league deal according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
Perez, 25, is coming off a solid showing in the Venezuelan Winter League where he batted .342/.407/.591 with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBI in 149 at-bats.
Last season he played for the Independent League Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association.
Perez was initially signed by Minnesota as a non-drafted free agent in 2006, But after suffering one injury after another, including undergoing Tommy John surgery, he was eventually released by the Twins after the 2012 season.
Seems like a nice under the radar signing that could prove useful. I’m sure the deal included a Spring Training invite, although Eddy doesn’t mention it.
(Photo Credit: Mark LoMoglio/MiLB.com)
This kids numbers actually look really good when he has been on the field. .300 plus batting average with 19 home runs in double A. Too bad he plays 2B not SS or might be a starter on the big club this year…lol. I did see he has played a bunch of positions so who knows.
The Baseball Reference stat page was a little confusing. That ¨AA¨ was under the league column, not level, and means American Association which is independent ball.
Gotcha, I was thinking he looked to good to be true.
However, in Single-A he hit .337, 15HRs, 60 RBIs, in 2011 and then in Adv A .265, 6HRs, 30 RBIs in 2012.
Yeah, he tore the cover off the ball in IND league, but he wasn’t awful for the Minnesota Twins A-A+ teams