Road to MLB debut for Tigers’ Perez: Injuries, swing changes and tears
Wenceel Pérez started his day in Des Moines, Iowa, knowing he would probably get called up but still waiting for the official word from the Detroit Tigers. Once he received the green light, he boarded a plane and traveled Pittsburgh to take the roster spot of an injured player.
Pérez talked to his family members on the phone at the airport.
He cried.
“It’s an unbelievable moment,” Pérez said Monday, after making his MLB debut in a 7-4 loss at PNC Park. “Everything you worked for when you were a kid, now your dream comes true. Going up and down, past issues with being hurt. When you get here, you’re going through the emotions with your family and friends, all of them.”
Pérez, a 24-year-old switch-hitter, has dealt with a position change and a back injury on his journey to the big the leagues. He used to be a shortstop, but he now plays all three outfield positions. He missed games in the 2022 and 2023 seasons with a back injury, spending a lot of time rehabbing.
In 2016, the Tigers signed a 16-year-old Pérez for $550,000 bonus as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic.
“When you get signed, that’s the first thing you think — to get to the majors,” Pérez said. “There were a lot of ups and downs and issues with injuries, but I worked so hard with the strength coaches that helped me with the injury that I had to get to this point.”
Before his MLB debut, Pérez hit .212 with five extra-base hits, including one home run, in eight games with Triple-A Toledo this season, recording four walks and six strikeouts. He stole four bases in as many attempts.
Last season, Pérez hit .274 with 26 stolen bases at three affiliates.
He tweaked his swing mechanics in 2022 to tap into his power, adjusting his hands and integrating a toe-tap. He went from four homers in 113 games in 2021 to 14 homers in 94 games in 2022, followed by nine homers in 116 games in 2023.
He increased home runs while continuing to hit for average, make smart swing decisions and steal bases.
“He’s performed through the minor leagues,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “His ability to run the bases, his bat-to-ball skills. Being a switch-hitter, I love having on the bench . ... It’ll
be primarily a bench role for him, which will be new, but he offers quite an offensive package to utilize during games.”
In Pittsburgh, Pérez experienced a moment he will never forget when Peter Warden, the Tigers’ director of team travel, embraced him.
“Congrats, man,” Warden said to him. “Welcome to the show.”
That interaction marked the beginning of a life-changing day, which continued in the seventh inning of Monday’s 7-4 loss to the Pirates. Pérez, a switch-hitter, replaced Zach McKinstry, a left-handed hitter, for his MLB debut against left-handed reliever Josh Fleming. (Andy Ibáñez, whom Pérez replaced on the roster, pinch-hit against left-handed relievers.)
Pérez battled but lined out on the sixth pitch.
“I cried a little bit when I was in the airport talking with my family,” Pérez said. “When I got here, I just smiled, like, ‘Oh my god, this is so great.’ Thank God to put me here and then the Tigers for giving me the opportunity.”
Pérez ended his day — the first day of his new journey as a big leaguer — by stepping into the batter’s box against Pirates left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman, also from the Dominican Republic.
Chapman, a seven-time All-Star and 15-year MLB veteran, struck out his fellow countryman on three pitches to strand the bases loaded in the eighth inning. Pérez fouled off a 99.2 mph
fastball and an 89.6 mph splitter, then he was frozen by a 101.2 mph sinker painted on the down-and-away corner.
“I was ready,” Pérez said. “That’s the mindset you have to have when you’re facing a pitcher like that. I’m here. I’m here today, but yeah, I’m here. I have the bat, so I’ll be ready to hit.” He knows he can hit.
He has a mature approach.
He also reminded us that he’s still 24. “I pitched with him on PlayStation,” Pérez said of Chapman, whom he grew up watching. “But when you’re facing him, you don’t remember that stuff.”