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 professiona ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, who attempts to e ...

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 ...

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 The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

as an international free agent. Perez made his Major League debut in 2018 for the Astros. He has also played for the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

Career

Houston Astros

Pérez played two seasons for

Matanzas Matanzas (Cuban ) is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas (Spanish ''Bahia de Matanzas''), east ...

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

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, one ...

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 20 ...

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 b ...

. 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 i ...

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 201 ...

, 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

for Luke Berryhill.

Baltimore Orioles

The

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 The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...

. 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