Cionel Félix Pérez Viera (born April 21, 1996) is a Cuban
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professional ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
for the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB). In 2016 he signed with the
Houston Astros as an international free agent. Perez made his Major League debut in 2018 for the Astros. He has also played for the
Cincinnati Reds.
Career
Houston Astros
Pérez played two seasons for
Matanzas of the
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series (, SNB) is the primary domestic professional baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban baseball league system. ...
. In September 2016, he signed a deal worth $5.15 million with the
Houston Astros as an international free agent. The contract was voided in October due an issue in his physical. In December, he agreed to a new deal with the Astros worth $2 million.
Pérez made his professional debut with the
Quad Cities River Bandits
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium) in Davenport, Iowa, o ...
in 2017. He was later that season promoted to the
Buies Creek Astros
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and play their home games at Segra Stadium. From 2017 to ...
and
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team is owned by ...
. In 21 total games (16 starts) between the three clubs, he posted a 6-4 record and 4.13 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. The Astros added him to their 40-man roster after the season. Perez made his Major League debut on July 11, 2018. In 2019, he played for the
GCL Astros
The Florida Complex League Astros are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to the 2021 season, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Astros. The team plays ...
,
Fayetteville Woodpeckers
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and play their home games at Segra Stadium. From 2017 to ...
, and the
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. They are located in Round Rock, Texas, and play their home games at the Dell Diamond. The team is named ...
, going 3–1 with a 4.94 ERA over 54.2 innings. He appeared in 5 games for the Astros in 2019, going 1–1 with a 10.00 ERA over 9 innings. In 2020 for Houston, Pérez made 7 appearances, registering a 2.84 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
Cincinnati Reds
On January 23, 2021, the Astros traded Pérez to the
Cincinnati Reds for Luke Berryhill.
Baltimore Orioles
The
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
claimed Pérez off waivers on November 24, 2021.
On June 12, 2022, Pérez recorded his first career save in a 10-7 win over the
Kansas City Royals.
Pérez made 66 appearances for Baltimore in 2022, pitching to a stellar 7-1 record and 1.40 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 57.2 innings pitched.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perz, Cionel
1996 births
Living people
Baseball players from Havana
Cuban League players
Major League Baseball players from Cuba
Cuban expatriate baseball players in the United States
Major League Baseball pitchers
Houston Astros players
Cincinnati Reds players
Baltimore Orioles players
Cocodrilos de Matanzas players
Gulf Coast Astros players
Quad Cities River Bandits players
Buies Creek Astros players
Fayetteville Woodpeckers players
Corpus Christi Hooks players
Fresno Grizzlies players
Round Rock Express players