Oliver Perez: 2006 N.L. Eastern Champion Mets Pitcher (2006 - 2010)
The six foot three left hander was signed as an amateur free agent by the San Diego Padres in 1999. At the start of his career, he had a good fastball & was a big strike out pitcher. In 2001 he struck out 160 batters in 154 innings pitched going 10-9 at A ball.
In 2002 he blew up the ranks from A ball to AA, to AAAA.
MLB Career: On June 16th, he debuted with the Padres & won his first two starts beating the Seattle Mariners & the AL New York club, striking out ten batters in his first eleven innings. He wound up 4-5 on the year with a 3.50 ERA.
In 2003, Perez went 4-7 while striking out 117 batters in 103 innings with the Padres in 19 games. On August 26th he was traded to the Pirates along with Jason Bay in exchange for Brian Giles. In five games with Pittsburgh, he was to 0-3 with a 5.87 ERA. Oliver would spend parts of four seasons with the Pirates (2004-2006).
In 2003, Perez went 4-7 while striking out 117 batters in 103 innings with the Padres in 19 games. On August 26th he was traded to the Pirates along with Jason Bay in exchange for Brian Giles. In five games with Pittsburgh, he was to 0-3 with a 5.87 ERA. Oliver would spend parts of four seasons with the Pirates (2004-2006).
struck out ten Cincinnati Reds pitching a six-hit shutout starting out a great year.
He was the top pitcher on his staff going 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA (6th in the NL). He had the league’s best strike out per nine inning ratio at 10.975 with 239 strikeouts (4th in the NL) in 196 innings pitched.
His 239 strike outs are the third most in a single season by a Pirates pitcher, Bob Veale fanned more on two separate occasions. Perez also walked 81 batters & allowed 21 HRs.
In 2005 he was plagued with injuries. In June after a June loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, he kicked a cart breaking his toe then missed over two months of action. He returned in September to finish up 7-5 with a 5.85 ERA. In 2006 things didn't go well for him.
In his second start he gave up a career high eight runs to the Reds. He started out at 0-2, then after earning his first win lost three straight. He had lost something off his fastball, after a May 17th win, he lost his next five decisions all in the month of June, as he dropped to 2-10 with a 6.63 ERA.
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Mets Career: On July 31st, Oliver Perez & Roberto Hernandez were traded to the New York Mets in exchange for Xavier Nady. At the time the Mets needed pitching help due to injuries. Hernandez was brought in for the bullpen when Duaner Sanchez went down with an injury while in a New York City cab.
Perez began at AAA Norfolk where he went 1-5 with a 6.05 ERA.
On August 26th with Pedro Martinez now injured, he made his first Mets start, allowing five runs in five innings to the Phillies at Shea Stadium earning no decision. The Mets put up eleven runs & won the game 11-5. On August 31st, he was shelled in Colorado for seven runs on 12 hits in just three innings of work, taking his first Mets loss. On the season he fell to 3-11 with a 6.58 ERA.
Oliver lost his next two starts as well, both at the hands of the Marlins. On September 12th, he struck out a season high 11 batters matching Tom Glavine & Pedro Martinez for most K's in a game that year by a Mets pitcher.
In the regular season for the Mets he was 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA in seven appearances. He avaeraged 10.1 strike outs per nine innings in those appearances. Overall he was 3-13 on the season with a 6.55 ERA in 22 starts.
2006 Post Season: Ollie did not see action in the NLDS sweep of the Dodgers.
As the series went to a Game #7, the Mets had nowhere to turn to but to Perez. Oliver stepped up & pitched well, he allowed just one run on four hits with four strike outs leaving the game in a 1-1 tie in the 6th inning. The Mets couldn’t score any more runs, as Jeff Suppan, Randy Flores & Adam Wainwright held them to a run. In the top of the 9th, Aaron Heilman served up the fatal HR to Yadier Molina giving the Cards the 3-1 win.
2007: In 2007 Rick Peterson seemed to have worked well with Perez, as there was a lot of pressure on him to succeed. He began by beating the Braves in Atlanta allowing just one run over seven innings of work at Turner Field.
In May he went 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA as opposing batters hit just .162 against him. On May 2nd he beat the Marlins allowing just one run. In his next start he gave up eight runs to the Giants but just two runs were earned as he suffered from two Mets errors in the Giants eight run 5th inning.
On May 13th, Oliver pitched a season high 8.1 innings in a win over the Brewers at Shea Stadium. It was the longest outing by a Mets starter that season. Perez allowed just one run while striking out six.
From May 18th to June 3rd, Oliver pitched seven innings or more in five straight starts, marking a career best. On May 18th, he beat Andy Pettitte in a subway series game, where he gave up a two run HR to Hideki Matsui. But a sac-fly from Carlos Delgado & two run HR from Endy Chaves helped the Mets win.
On May 23rd, he shut out the Braves for seven innings in Atlanta to earn his third straight win for the first time in his career. On May 29th, he pitched into the 7th inning for the fourth straight start, although he gave up three runs to the Giants, earning no decision.
subway series in the Bronx. On June 15th, Perez shut out the AL New York team into the 8th inning, striking out six while issuing three walks & five hits to earn his seventh win (7-5). He combined on a 2-0 shut out over Roger Clemens. Jose Reyes homered & had an RBI single leading the offense.
On July 3rd he was placed on the DL with stiffness in the back. Perez returned On July 15th & won his next starts to get to 9-6 on the year. On July 26th he gave up five runs to the Pirates taking a 7-4 loss.
On August 24th at Shea Stadium, he pitched seven shutout innings allowing just three hits to the Dodgers. in a 5-2 Mets win. On August 29th he matched his season high 11 strike outs but lost to the Phillies, to get to 12-9.
In September he started the month with a win over the Reds even though he gave up five runs. On September 10th, then beat Tim Hudson & the Braves 3-2 led by David Wright's two run HR. The Mets had a six-game lead in first place after the win.
After the Mets got swept in Philadelphia & lost five straight their lead fell to just 1.5 games.
But the Mets then lost five straight, with Perez taking the fifth loss.
On September 28th the loss was his tenth of the season, a career high & it took the Mets out of a first-place tie, falling one game back of the Phillies with two left to play. A loss on the final game of the season eliminated them from the post season.
Perez won 15 games 915-10) tying John Maine for most wins on the staff. He posted a 3.56 ERA second best among Mets starters (9th best in the NL). Perez posted 174 strikeouts (10th in the NL) & second most of his career. He issued 79 walks in 177 innings pitched in 29 starts. Opponent batted just .229 against him, third best in the NL.
a big inning.
He began the year well, pitching six shutout innings in the third game of the season, earning a win in Florida against the Marlins. On April 8th, he started the final Mets home opener at Shea Stadium, shutting out the Phillies into the 6th inning. The Mets went on to a 5-2 loss.
On April 13th, Perez gave up six runs to the Brewers at Shea but earned no decision in the 9-7 loss. On April 19th he went to 2-0 shutting out the Phillies in Philadelphia for 5.2 innings.
On April 30th in Pittsburgh all hell broke loose against the Pirates as he walked five, allowed seven runs (two earned) & exited in the second inning. Perez lost three straight games. On May 5th, Perez gave up five runs, including three HRs to the Dodgers to fall to 2-3.
On April 30th in Pittsburgh all hell broke loose against the Pirates as he walked five, allowed seven runs (two earned) & exited in the second inning. Perez lost three straight games. On May 5th, Perez gave up five runs, including three HRs to the Dodgers to fall to 2-3.
On May 23rd, he issued a career high eight walks in a 6-5 loss at Colorado. The eight walks were the most by a Mets pitcher since Mike Hampton on March 29th, 2000, in his first Mets start.
on five hits with a pair of walks. In his next two starts he would only give up a run in each game.
Two RBI Game: On June 13th, he pitched seven innings in Texas to beat the Rangers 7-1 earning his fifth win. In the Mets four run 6th inning, he collected a two-run single off Josh Rupe.
In July Perez led all pitchers posting a 1.58 ERA. On July 6th he pitched seven shutout innings against the Phillies but got no decision in the Mets eventual win. It was the first time since April 19th where he did not give up any runs.
On July 24th, Perez struck out 12 Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. He pitched into the 8th inning, allowing one run, but got no decision in the win. Carlos Delgado's two run double in the top of the 9th won it for the Mets.
On July 24th, Perez struck out 12 Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. He pitched into the 8th inning, allowing one run, but got no decision in the win. Carlos Delgado's two run double in the top of the 9th won it for the Mets.
On September 3rd, he reached double digits in wins for the second straight season & the third time in his career. He became the fourth Mets starter to reach ten wins that season as well.
But as September went on, the Mets faltered going 7-10 in their final 17 games. Perez had five no decisions in the month. On September 9th, he gave up a season high seven earned runs in a 108-8 loss to Washington.
Mets No Decision Record: On September 19th in Atlanta, he earned his 17th no decision on the season, setting a Mets record, passing Masato Yoshi's 15 set in 1998.
In the 6th he gave up a double & RBI base hit. He exited after loading the bases, being relieved by Joe Smith. Smith walked Josh Willingham to force in a run charged to Perez. He was not the pitcher of record as the Mets tied it in the bottom of the inning but went on to lose it as the Marlins put up two runs in the 8th off Scott Schoeneweis & Luis Ayala. For the second straight year the Mets were eliminated on the last game of the season.
On the year Perez was 10-7 leading the league in starts (34) & walks (105). He posted a 4.22 ERA striking out 180 batters in 194 innings. Perez pitched well at Shea Stadium going 4-2
In February of 2009 the Mets gave him a three-year deal that took many people by surprise.
Mets First Win In New Citi Field: On April 15th, Perez earned the first Mets win at the new Citi Field, beating the Padres 7-2 allowing just one run over six innings.
On April 26th, Oliver allowed seven runs to the Nationals at Citi Field, serving up two HRs in the 8-1 loss. By now he was hearing it from the fans, & the media. Perez was not the most popular guy in town.
On May 4th, after another poor start, he was placed on the DL with a knee injury. Oliver missed two months of action.
When he returned in July the Mets were three games over .500 43-40 & 4.5 games back.
When he returned in July the Mets were three games over .500 43-40 & 4.5 games back.
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On July 8th, Oliver pitched five innings, allowing three runs to the Dodgers. In that game he walked a season high seven & saw his ERA climb to 8.78.From July 16th to August 1st, Perez would allow at least four walks in his next five starts. In his next seven starts he would earn six no decisions & a loss.
On August 1st, he struck out seven batters in a 9-6 win over Arizona but earned no decision. He pitched two good outings on the August West Coast trip, allowing just one run in each start in San Diego & Arizona, pitching into the 6th inning both times, but go no decisions.
On August 18th, he won his first game in over a month & his final game as a Mets pitcher. On August 23rd he was shelled in the first inning allowing six runs, on four hits & two walks to the Phillies. It was the shortest outing in any start in his career. -In the month he struck out 25 batters & posted a 10.07 strike out per nine innings mark.
In 2009 Perez was 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA, he struck out 62 batters & walked 58 in 66 innings pitched. The Mets were 70-92 finishing a disappointing fourth in their first year at Citi Field.
2010: By this time, its safe to say his days were numbered in New York. He then started out 0-3 with an ERA near six when manager Jerry Manuel moved him to the bullpen in mid-May.
Perez was doomed, then his attitude didn't help. At first, he refused to go to the minor leagues to work on his pitching. In early June he went on the DL with tendinitis on the right knee. He would miss over six weeks of action, when he returned, he again refused to go to the minors to work things out.
On July 24th, he gave up a walk off HR to the Dodgers James Loney for his fourth loss of the year. Perez went down again & only pitched in three games in August & September. On October 3rd he came into a tied game in the top of the 14th inning & walked the Nat's Justin Maxwell with the bases loaded for the games winning run.He ended the year at 0-5 with a 6.80 ERA allowing 35 earned runs & 42 walks in 46 innings pitched.
In Spring Training of 2011, the Mets new regime of management gave him his unconditional release eating the $4.2 million owed to him.
Mets Career Stats: In his Mets career Perez was 29-29 with a 4.71 ERA, he had 494 strike outs, 628 walks & 74 HRs given up in 520 innings in 101 appearances (91 starts).He signed a deal with the Washington Nationals & was 3-5 with a 3.09 ERA at AA Harrisburg for 2011.
In 2012 Perez was back in the big leagues going 1-3 with a 2.12 ERA in 33 games for the Seattle Mariners. Perez found a new home in Seattle & in 2013 made 61 appearances out of the Mariner bullpen. he recorded two saves, posting a 3-3 record with a 3.74 ERA.
That off season he signed a deal with the Arizona D-backs. In 2014he was used as a mid-reliever. going 3-4 with a 2.91 ERA while getting credit for 15 holds in 68 appearances.
In 2015 he began the year in Arizona going 2-1 in 48 games before getting sent to the AL Wild Card Champion Houston Astros. There he was 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 22 games.
Perez would pitch with the Nationals (2016-2017) making two post seasons.
2016 Post Season- NLDS: Oliver made four appearances in the NLDS loss to the Dodgers pitching 4.1 scoreless innings.
In 2017 he was one of eleven Nationals pitchers to record a save. On June 5th, recorded his third career save in 4-2 win over the Dodgers. His 12 holds were second on the staff to Matt Albers 14.
Perez then moved on to the Cleveland Indians (2018-2021) going 4-7 in 144 games there posting a 2.57 ERA. In 2019 he was Terry Francona's left-handed specialist recording 22 holds.
On May 29th, he recorded his 1500 strike out in a game vs the Red Sox. He made one appearance in the 2020 ALWC series.
In 2022 at age 39, he pitched his final season back in Arizona making seven appearances.
Career Stats: In twenty-year, career, Perez was 74-94 with a 4.37 ERA. He struck out 1546
batters walking 762 in 1465.2 innings pitched in 703 appearances making 195 starts.
batters walking 762 in 1465.2 innings pitched in 703 appearances making 195 starts.
He has played the seasons of any Mexican born player in MLB history.
Family: Oliver & his wife Luz, have four children, two girls two boys. In 2019 Oliver & Luz became United States citizens.
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