Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

Signed for $75,000 out of Venezuela in July 2019, Perales put himself on the prospect map when his fastball reached 95 mph in the Dominican Republic's Tricky League a month later. Because of the pandemic, minor injuries and getting handled with care, he worked just 127 1/3 innings in his first four years a pro. He dominated early last season, striking out 39 percent of the batters he faced while reaching Double-A in June at age 21, but he blew out his elbow in his second start there and had Tommy John surgery later that month.

Perales makes up for a lack of physicality with lightning-quick arm speed that generates four-seam fastballs that sit at 95-98 mph and touch 99 with a flat approach angle and huge carry up in the strike zone. He made progress with his secondary pitches last season, particularly with an upper-80s splitter that features devastating tumble when it's on. He uses both a sweeping low-80s slider and a tighter upper-80s cutter, with the latter pitch improving significantly in 2024.

While Perales is athletic and gets down the mound well to create extension, he's also small for a starter and throws with some effort. He looked more like a pitcher than a thrower last year, cutting his walk rate to 8 percent (down from 13 percent in his first three pro seasons) and using his secondary offerings more often rather than just dominating with his fastball. The Red Sox still are convinced that he can become a frontline starter, though he'll miss the 2025 season and other clubs think it's more likely he'll become a closer.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45

Perales signed for $75,000 out of Venezuela in July 2019 and quickly opened eyes when he ran his fastball up to 95 mph in the Dominican Republic's Tricky League a month later. He got off to a slow start as a pro with the pandemic delaying his debut until 2021, when he made just one appearance before getting shut down with a minor injury. He overpowered hitters at the lower levels and reached Double-A at age 21 this June, but he blew out his elbow in his second start and required Tommy John surgery.

Though he lacks physicality, Perales has electric arm speed that produces mid-90s fastballs that reach 99 with a flat approach angle and tremendous carry. It's a plus-plus weapon that would be even more effective if he had more reliable pitches to back it up. His mid-80s slider has two-plane depth at its best but lacks consistency, and he hasn't shown much feel for a too-firm changeup in the upper 80s with a bit of life.

Perales is athletic and moves well down the mound, creating extension that adds deception, but he's also small and throws with some effort. He never provided regular strikes before his brief 2024 season, and his inability to land his secondary pitches at times can lead to his fastball getting hit harder than it should. He has the upside of a mid-rotation starter if he can regain his health and polish his offerings but could wind up as more of a late-inning reliever.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 

Perales was relatively anonymous when he signed for $75,000 out of Venezuela in July 2019, but that quickly began to change when his fastball hit 95 mph a month later in the Dominican Republic's Tricky League. The pandemic delayed his official pro debut until 2021, when he made just one appearance in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League before Boston shut him down with a minor injury. He dazzled in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League last summer and made a four-start cameo in Single-A at age 19. 

Perales has a lightning-quick arm that produces fastballs that park in the mid-90s and tops out at 99 mph with riding action up in the zone. His mid-80s slider features two-plane depth at its best and shows the potential to become a plus pitch, and he also can turn it into a harder cutter. He's in the early stages of developing a changeup that has upper-80s velocity and some fade. 

Similar in build and arsenal to fellow Red Sox Venezuelan pitching prospect Wilkelman Gonzalez, Perales has more power but less polish with his secondary pitches. He generates his stuff with less effort than Gonzalez, though he needs to prove he can handle a starter's workload and deliver enough strikes. He has the upside of a No. 3 starter if he remains in the rotation and perhaps closer ceiling if he winds up in the bullpen.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40 

The Red Sox signed the unheralded Perales for $75,000 out of Venezuela in July 2019 and other teams took notice when he started pushing his fastball to 95 mph a month later during Tricky League action in the Dominican Republic. The pandemic delayed his official pro debut until 2021, when he made just one two-inning appearance in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League before getting shut down with a minor arm injury. Boston continues to handle him with care, but he has been fully healthy and dazzling in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League this summer. 

Though he's not very physical, Perales has a quick arm that produces fastballs that sit in the mid-90s and reach 99 mph with good carry. He also shows feel for spinning an upper-70s curveball that could become a plus pitch once it adds more power and consistency. His meager pro experience has limited his opportunity to work on his rudimentary changeup. 

While Perales lacks size and projection, he has added strength since signing and generates his impressive stuff with relatively little effort. He shows aptitude for repeating his delivery and throwing strikes, though like most youngsters he'll need time to refine his command. He's a high-variance pitching prospect who should be ready to make his full-season debut in 2023.

Awards

CAR Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
06/18/2023

FCL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
07/2022

FCL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
07/17/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/07/2025	Boston Red Sox optioned RHP Luis Perales to Portland Sea Dogs.
	10/01/2024	Boston Red Sox recalled RHP Luis Perales from Portland Sea Dogs.
	06/29/2024	Portland Sea Dogs placed RHP Luis Perales on the full-season injured list.
	06/09/2024	Portland Sea Dogs placed RHP Luis Perales on the 7-day injured list.
	06/09/2024	Portland Sea Dogs placed RHP Luis Perales on the 7-day injured list.
	05/26/2024	RHP Luis Perales assigned to Portland Sea Dogs from Greenville Drive.
	03/30/2024	RHP Luis Perales assigned to Greenville Drive from Worcester Red Sox.
	03/08/2024	Boston Red Sox optioned RHP Luis Perales to Worcester Red Sox.
	11/14/2023	Boston Red Sox selected the contract of RHP Luis Perales from Greenville Drive.
	07/14/2023	RHP Luis Perales assigned to Greenville Drive from Salem Red Sox.
	07/14/2023	Greenville Drive activated RHP Luis Perales.
	08/18/2022	RHP Luis Perales assigned to Salem Red Sox from FCL Red Sox.
	08/18/2022	Salem Red Sox activated RHP Luis Perales.
	06/03/2022	RHP Luis Perales assigned to FCL Red Sox from DSL Red Sox Red.
	07/10/2021	RHP Luis Perales assigned to DSL Red Sox Red.
	07/02/2019	Boston Red Sox signed free agent RHP Luis Perales to a minor league contract.