Perez led Cuba's top league with a 2.06 ERA as an 18-year-old during the 2014-15 season before defecting in May 2015. The Astros originally signed him for a $5.15 million bonus in September 2016, voided the deal when a physical led to concerns about his elbow, then re-signed him for $2 million (plus a matching amount in penalty tax) that December. He expressed frustration with the process afterward and has stayed healthy since while making it to Houston ahead of schedule this July.
His fastball parked around 90 mph in Cuba, but Perez now sits at 93-95 mph and peaks at 98 with sink that generates ground balls. His slider has gotten harder and tighter, working in the low 80s, and his changeup has improved as well. He has three pitches that grade as at least solid as well as a slow curveball that isn't as reliable.
Perez has lived up to his reputation for advanced pitchability. He's not physical but has a quick arm and little effort in his delivery, which he repeats well. While he began his big league career in the bullpen and the elbow issue and his diminutive build raise questions about his durability as a starter, his efficiency helps his cause.
Statcast - Pitching
Season
Pitches
Batted Balls
Barrels
Barrel %
Exit Velocity
Launch Angle
XBA
XSLG
WOBA
XWOBA
XWOBACON
Hard Hit %
2018
140
16
1
5.9
89.9
4.9
.232
.376
.280
.335
.369
35.3
ALL
140
16
1
5.9
89.9
4.9
.232
.376
.280
.335
.369
35.3
MLB
29455
6.1
87.3
10.9
.248
.409
.317
.317
.368
34.1
Transactions
Team
Date
Transaction
08/21/2018
Houston Astros optioned LHP Cionel Perez to Fresno Grizzlies.
08/03/2018
Houston Astros recalled LHP Cionel Perez from Fresno Grizzlies.
07/28/2018
Houston Astros optioned LHP Cionel Perez to Fresno Grizzlies.
07/11/2018
Houston Astros recalled Cionel Perez from Corpus Christi Hooks.
07/01/2018
Houston Astros optioned LHP Cionel Perez to Corpus Christi Hooks.
06/29/2018
Houston Astros recalled Cionel Perez from Corpus Christi Hooks.
03/27/2018
LHP Cionel Perez assigned to Corpus Christi Hooks.
03/09/2018
Houston Astros optioned LHP Cionel Perez to Fresno Grizzlies.
11/20/2017
Houston Astros selected the contract of Cionel Perez from Corpus Christi Hooks.
08/15/2017
LHP Cionel Perez assigned to Corpus Christi Hooks from Buies Creek Astros.
07/11/2017
LHP Cionel Perez assigned to Buies Creek Astros from Quad Cities River Bandits.
04/27/2017
LHP Cionel Perez assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits.
12/09/2016
Houston Astros signed free agent LHP Cionel Perez to a minor league contract.
Monthly Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
July
0
0
5.40
4
0
0
5.0
4
3
3
1
3
6
1.40
August
0
0
0.00
2
0
0
2.0
0
0
0
0
2
1
1.00
Pre All-Star
0
0
3.38
2
0
0
2.2
2
1
1
0
2
2
1.50
Post All-Star
0
0
4.15
4
0
0
4.1
2
2
2
1
3
5
1.15
Base Runner Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
Bases Empty
2.25
4.0
3
1
1
1
3
3
1.50
Runner at 1st
0.00
2.2
1
0
0
0
2
3
1.13
Runners at 1st & 2nd
54.00
0.1
0
2
2
0
0
1
0.00
Scoring Position
54.00
0.1
0
2
2
0
0
1
0.00
Game Type Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
Home Games
0
0
3.86
4
0
0
4.2
3
2
2
1
3
4
1.29
Away Games
0
0
3.86
2
0
0
2.1
1
1
1
0
2
3
1.29
Day Games
0
0
3.86
2
0
0
2.1
1
1
1
0
1
3
0.86
Night Games
0
0
3.86
4
0
0
4.2
3
2
2
1
4
4
1.50
Leading Off
0.00
2.1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0.00
Outs Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
No Outs
0.00
2.1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0.00
One Out
3.00
3.0
2
1
1
1
1
3
1.00
Two Outs
10.80
1.2
2
2
2
0
4
3
3.60
Inning Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
Fifth Inning
0.00
0.2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0.00
Sixth Inning
13.50
0.2
1
1
1
0
1
2
3.00
Eighth Inning
4.50
2.0
2
1
1
1
1
2
1.50
Ninth Inning
2.45
3.2
1
1
1
0
3
2
1.09
Monthly Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
April
1
1
2.16
4
3
0
16.2
17
7
4
0
8
16
1.50
May
3
0
1.35
6
5
0
26.2
16
4
4
2
8
38
0.90
June
1
0
3.86
4
2
0
14.0
14
6
6
1
5
17
1.36
July
1
0
0.82
2
1
1
11.0
7
1
1
0
1
12
0.73
August
0
0
0.00
1
0
0
0.2
1
0
0
0
2
1
4.50
First Half
5
1
2.32
13
10
0
54.1
45
17
14
3
20
69
1.20
Second Half
1
0
0.64
3
1
1
14.0
9
1
1
0
2
14
0.79
Pre All-Star
5
1
2.20
14
10
0
57.1
47
17
14
3
21
71
1.19
Post All-Star
1
0
0.82
2
1
1
11.0
7
1
1
0
1
12
0.73
Post All-Star
0
0
0.00
1
0
0
0.2
1
0
0
0
2
1
4.50
Base Runner Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
Bases Empty
0.77
35.0
33
3
3
3
14
50
1.34
Bases Empty
0.00
0.1
1
0
0
0
0
0
3.00
Bases Loaded
*.**
0.0
1
4
4
0
1
0
Bases Loaded
-.--
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Runner at 1st
0.00
15.0
11
0
0
0
2
14
0.87
Runners at 1st & 2nd
2.84
6.1
2
2
2
0
0
6
0.32
Runners at 1st & 2nd
-.--
0.0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Runners at 1st & 3rd
4.50
2.0
1
2
1
0
0
2
0.50
Runner at 2nd
3.38
8.0
5
5
3
0
4
8
1.13
Runner at 2nd
0.00
0.1
0
0
0
0
1
1
3.00
Runners at 2nd & 3rd
18.00
1.0
1
2
2
0
1
2
2.00
Runner at 3rd
0.00
1.0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0.00
Scoring Position
5.89
18.1
10
15
12
0
6
19
0.87
Scoring Position
0.00
0.1
0
0
0
0
2
1
6.00
Game Type Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
Home Games
3
0
1.24
9
5
1
36.1
27
6
5
0
12
53
1.07
Away Games
3
1
2.81
7
6
0
32.0
27
12
10
3
10
30
1.16
Away Games
0
0
0.00
1
0
0
0.2
1
0
0
0
2
1
4.50
Day Games
2
0
2.70
3
2
0
13.1
10
6
4
3
3
18
0.98
Night Games
4
1
1.80
13
9
1
55.0
44
12
11
0
19
65
1.15
Night Games
0
0
0.00
1
0
0
0.2
1
0
0
0
2
1
4.50
Leading Off
0.59
15.1
14
1
1
1
7
21
1.37
Leading Off
0.00
0.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
Late / Close
0.00
4.2
4
2
0
0
1
4
1.07
Outs Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
No Outs
1.44
25.0
19
4
4
1
10
26
1.16
No Outs
0.00
0.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
One Out
2.05
22.0
21
6
5
1
6
32
1.23
One Out
0.00
0.1
1
0
0
0
0
1
3.00
Two Outs
2.53
21.1
14
8
6
1
6
25
0.94
Two Outs
-.--
0.0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Inning Splits
Type
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
First Inning
0.82
11.0
6
1
1
0
4
15
0.91
Second Inning
4.09
11.0
13
5
5
0
2
16
1.36
Third Inning
1.69
10.2
11
2
2
2
5
8
1.50
Fourth Inning
0.90
10.0
7
2
1
0
3
14
1.00
Fifth Inning
2.84
6.1
4
2
2
1
4
7
1.26
Sixth Inning
5.68
6.1
5
4
4
0
3
7
1.26
Seventh Inning
0.00
6.0
3
2
0
0
0
5
0.50
Seventh Inning
0.00
0.2
1
0
0
0
2
1
4.50
Eighth Inning
0.00
4.0
3
0
0
0
1
6
1.00
Ninth Inning
0.00
3.0
2
0
0
0
0
5
0.67
Date
Home Tm
Away Tm
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
2018-07-11
Houston Astros
Oakland Athletics
0
0
5.40
1
0
0
1.2
2
1
1
0
2
2
2.40
2018-07-14
Houston Astros
Detroit Tigers
0
0
3.38
1
0
0
1.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.50
2018-07-22
Los Angeles Angels
Houston Astros
0
0
4.50
1
0
0
1.1
1
1
1
0
1
3
1.50
2018-07-27
Houston Astros
Texas Rangers
0
0
5.40
1
0
0
1.0
1
1
1
1
0
1
1.40
July
0
0
5.40
4
0
0
5.0
4
3
3
1
3
6
1.40
2018-08-04
Los Angeles Dodgers
Houston Astros
0
0
4.50
1
0
0
1.0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1.33
2018-08-15
Houston Astros
Colorado Rockies
0
0
3.86
1
0
0
1.0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1.29
August
0
0
0.00
2
0
0
2.0
0
0
0
0
2
1
1.00
Date
Home Tm
Away Tm
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
WHIP
2018-04-09
Arkansas Travelers
Corpus Christi Hooks
0
1
9.00
1
1
0
4.0
5
4
4
0
3
1
2.00
2018-04-16
Corpus Christi Hooks
Arkansas Travelers
0
0
4.50
1
1
0
4.0
3
0
0
0
3
6
1.75
2018-04-22
Frisco RoughRiders
Corpus Christi Hooks
1
0
3.00
1
0
0
4.0
3
2
0
0
1
4
1.50
2018-04-28
Corpus Christi Hooks
Frisco RoughRiders
0
0
2.16
1
1
0
4.2
6
1
0
0
1
5
1.50
April
1
1
2.16
4
3
0
16.2
17
7
4
0
8
16
1.50
2018-05-04
Midland RockHounds
Corpus Christi Hooks
0
0
2.33
1
1
0
2.2
4
1
1
0
2
0
1.60
2018-05-10
Corpus Christi Hooks
Midland RockHounds
1
0
1.85
1
1
0
5.0
3
0
0
0
1
7
1.44
2018-05-15
Corpus Christi Hooks
San Antonio Missions
1
0
1.59
1
0
0
4.0
1
0
0
0
0
6
1.27
2018-05-20
Frisco RoughRiders
Corpus Christi Hooks
1
0
1.87
1
1
0
5.1
2
2
2
2
2
8
1.19
2018-05-25
Corpus Christi Hooks
Tulsa Drillers
0
0
1.88
1
1
0
4.2
3
1
1
0
2
10
1.17
2018-05-31
Springfield Cardinals
Corpus Christi Hooks
0
0
1.66
1
1
0
5.0
3
0
0
0
1
7
1.13
May
3
0
1.35
6
5
0
26.2
16
4
4
2
8
38
0.90
2018-06-06
Corpus Christi Hooks
Frisco RoughRiders
0
0
1.99
1
0
0
2.0
3
2
2
0
0
2
1.15
2018-06-11
Corpus Christi Hooks
San Antonio Missions
1
0
2.15
1
1
0
5.0
4
2
2
0
4
7
1.19
2018-06-17
San Antonio Missions
Corpus Christi Hooks
0
0
2.32
1
1
0
4.0
5
2
2
1
0
6
1.20
2018-06-22
Corpus Christi Hooks
Frisco RoughRiders
0
0
2.20
1
0
0
3.0
2
0
0
0
1
2
1.19
June
1
0
3.86
4
2
0
14.0
14
6
6
1
5
17
1.36
2018-07-03
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Corpus Christi Hooks
1
0
2.10
1
1
0
7.0
5
1
1
0
1
4
1.15
2018-07-08
Corpus Christi Hooks
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
0
0
1.98
1
0
1
4.0
2
0
0
0
0
8
1.11
July
1
0
0.82
2
1
1
11.0
7
1
1
0
1
12
0.73
2018-08-01
Nashville Sounds
Fresno Grizzlies
0
0
0.00
1
0
0
0.2
1
0
0
0
2
1
4.50
August
0
0
0.00
1
0
0
0.2
1
0
0
0
2
1
4.50
Statcast Pitch Arsenal
Perez relies on 4 pitches.
Four Seamer (66.4%),Slider (30.7%),Sinker (1.4%),Changeup (1.4%),
