Perdomo’s talent is catching up to his size
PHOENIX – The first thing you notice about Angel Perdomo is the size.
At 6 feet 8 inches and 265 pounds, the 25-year-old looks like he could be playing power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks.
But Perdomo is a left-hander who can throw his fastball in the mid-90s, a tantalizing combination. And after a productive 2019 season capped by a stint at Class AAA San Antonio, he’s gotten himself into the discussion as a potential bullpen arm for the Milwaukee Brewers this season.
“I think he can have success in the big leagues right now. But consistent success?” said manager Craig Counsell. “I think that consistency probably has to go up a notch for him. So, that’s where he’s at. And that’s a jump from last year.”
Perdomo had not pitched above advanced Class A in seven seasons in the Toronto organization before the Brewers signed him as a minor-league free agent in November 2018.
He was invited to major-league camp last spring and struck out nine over five innings in five Cactus League games before opening the season in Class AA Biloxi’s bullpen. He struck out 21 over 151⁄3 innings in seven games there and then was bumped up to San Antonio.
Perdomo spent the bulk of the season with the Missions, with mixed results. His 3-2 record, 5.17 earned run average and 1.57 WHIP in 40 appearances didn’t jump off the page, but his 86 strikeouts in 54 innings in the offense-crazy Pacific Coast League did. In early November the Brewers added him to the 40-man roster.
“That’s a pretty big indication of what we think of him,” Counsell said.
He’s struck out four in a pair of oneinning outings this spring while allowing only a bunt single.
Perdomo cuts an imposing figure on the mound, with arms long enough to seemingly stretch the ball over the plate. With Hall of Famer Randy Johnson
as the best example, exceptionally tall pitchers can succeed at a high level. But it took Johnson a long time to develop, and even though Pedromo turns 26 on May 7 it would appear he is still growing into his sizable body.
“It’s a scouting belief of mine, but taller players have a longer development window in baseball,” Counsell said. “It’s harder to put long levers together and to be as consistent in baseball. I think it makes sense and it’s proven out over a lot of players.
“It’s a challenging thing, but you keep going with them because the results are generally pretty good at the end.”
Perdomo started 53 games over his final three seasons with Toronto, but his future with Milwaukee is as a reliever who the Brewers hope will eventually be able to pitch in a multitude of roles out of the bullpen.
“His confidence has grown and his comfort level has grown exponentially. And that’s a great sign,” said Counsell. “He just feels like he belongs and he’s a big-leaguer.”
Three added to Wall of Honor
The Brewers announced former pitchers Yovani Gallardo and Francisco Rodriguez as well as outfielder Carlos Gomez will be inducted into their Wall of Honor this year but another shutout was pitched in terms of adding someone to the more prestigious Walk of Fame.
For the second year in a row and third time in four years, no former Brewers or Braves players, or managers or executives, were voted onto the Walk of Fame.
Gomez, who played six seasons (2010-15) for Milwaukee, will ceremonially retire as a member of the Brewers before being honored at a date to be announced later.
Additionally, the Brewers and Milwaukee Braves Historical Association will induct the late Wes Covington onto the Milwaukee Braves Wall of Honor during a ceremony on May 20.
In 697 games with the Brewers, Gomez batted .267 with 87 home runs, 288 runs batted in and 152 stolen bases. He was a two-time all-star (2013 and 2014) and one of only six players to be awarded a Gold Glove for the Brewers, earning that honor in 2013 to snap a 28-year drought for the organization.
A second-round pick in the 2004 draft, Gallardo pitched for the Brewers for eight seasons (2004-14), going 8954 with a 3.69 ERA in 214 appearances (211 starts). He holds the franchise record with 1,226 career strikeouts and was the team’s pitcher of the year three times.
Rodriguez, known as “K-Rod” for his strikeout exploits, spent five of his 16 major-league seasons with the Brewers, posting a 2.91 ERA and 95 saves in 263 appearances. He made the NL all-star team in 2014 and 2015, recording a total of 82 saves in those seasons.
Covington will be the 19th member inducted into the Milwaukee Braves Wall of Honor. He played six of his 11 major-league seasons with the Braves, batting .284 with 64 home runs and 235 RBI in 468 games.