Back For More: Sam Perez’ 2018 Miami Marlins Season Review

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 102 of 286. For the first 100, click here.

Samuel Charles Perez is a 6’3″, 210 lb. right-handed pitcher out of Missouri State University. Major leaguers out of UM number 26, including Brad Ziegler. Perez was chosen in the fifth round of the 2016 draft, with the 143rd overall selection by the Miami Marlins. While at Missouri State, Perez went 20-2 with a 3.31 ERA over 80 appearances, 79 of them in relief. He struck out 200 in 193 innings of work.

18 percent of players chosen 143rd overall eventually reach the majors. The most prolific of those are Gary Disarcina (1988, California Angels, 11.2 career WAR), Jim Johnson (2001, Baltimore Orioles, 8.1 WAR), and Nick Hundley (2002, Marlins, 7.2 WAR).

After signing with the Marlins for a $20,000 bonus, Perez reported to the short-season-A Batavia Muckdogs, in the New York-Penn League. The Turlock, CA native got into 16 games for the Muckdogs, starting eight times and striking out 36 in 48 innings. He went 1-1 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. You can follow Perez on Twitter @SCPerez_.

Perez Ranked

In 2017, Perez began the season as the Marlins 19th ranked prospect. He started 14 times for the Muckdogs and went 4-2 with a solid 2.21 ERA, then made the NYPL mid-season all-star team for his efforts. In 17 relief appearances one level up, with the single-A South Atlantic League’s Greensboro Grasshoppers, he went 2-1 with a 6.21 ERA. In total he struck out 83 in 110 2/3 innings, with a 1.11 WHIP.

Perez started the 2018 season in the rotation of the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads, in the Florida State League. In his first start, on April 5th, he pitched five scoreless two-hit innings in a 3-2 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals. On April 28th, he pitched six scoreless two-hit innings in a 3-0 win against the Bradenton Marauders.

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Perez played in nine games for the Muckdogs through the end of May, starting in eight of them. He went 2-2 with a 4.14 ERA, 26 whiffs in 41 1/3 innings, and a 1.379 WHIP. On May 28th, the Hammerheads placed Perez on the seven-day disabled list.

Perez remained on the DL for the remainder of the season, only getting activated on September 24th. He was showing solid progression before the injury, and should advance to the double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Southern League before too much of the 2019 campaign is through. The expectation is currently that Perez is two seasons away, and should be in line for a roster spot with the September 2020 callups if he continues to progress normally.

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