No kidding: Tigers rookie Perez all smiles while helping carry the offense.
Wenceel Pérez credits pushups for his success.
“I did like 20 pushups last night,” he said, smiling.
He was kidding, but it’s another example of Pérez simply being himself and having fun during his first three weeks in the big leagues with the Detroit Tigers. Just like when he slid headfirst into first base for an infield single and smiled from ear to ear in celebration of his first hit.
In this case, Pérez joked around after hitting the first home run of his MLB career in his 13th game. He nearly missed a homer on a changeup in Saturday’s seventh inning, but in the first inning of Sunday’s 4-1 win, he got enough of Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Wacha’s changeup for a two-run homer at Comerica Park.
“He kind of shaded himself with the warning track power last night,” manager A.J. Hinch said, “and then he did a few extra pushups and gets the ball out of the ballpark. He’s just a fun guy to be around. I think his personality is showing and shining through because he’s comfortable in his own skin. And he can really play.”
Pérez turned on the ball for a 368-foot homer to right field, with a 103.1 mph exit velocity. He smiled as he rounded the bases. “A couple pushups,” Pérez said. “I think it worked.”
Pérez, a speedy switch-hitting outfielder known for making contact, is hitting .286 with one double, two triples, one home run, four walks and 10 strikeouts in 13 games. He also has two stolen bases in three attempts.
He has been in the three-hole in three of the last four games, with Spencer Torkelson dropping in the lineup.
“I think it’s giving me confidence,” Pérez said. “I thank A.J. because he’s giving me the confidence. You come in, make your debut, not to much time in the big leagues, and you’re batting three? That’s great.”
Pérez has played just 13 games in his MLB career.
He ranks 13th for the Tigers, among the 15 position players, with 39 plate appearances. The sample size is small, but Pérez has been the best of the three players with rookie status.
He is outshining top prospect Colt Keith, hitting .161 with one extra-base hit in 25 games, and Parker Meadows, an elite defender in center field hitting .091 with four extra-base hits in 26 games. The difference: Pérez is crushing four-seam fastballs.
“I’m trying to be patient,” Pérez said. “I’m
trying to play the game. This is a dream that I’ve had since I was a kid, so now that I’m here, I’m just trying to have fun here. That makes me feel that confidence.”
His confidence on offense is carrying over to his defense.
The Tigers switched Pérez from infield and outfield to outfield-only in spring training. He has struggled with the accuracy on throws in the infield and routes on fly balls in the outfield, but recently, Pérez looks more comfortable in the grass, spending time in both right field and center field.
He showed his confidence in Sunday’s game when he tracked a 385-foot fly ball from Royals slugger Salvador Perez in the gap in right-center field for the final out in the sixth inning.
“I’m a little more confident now that I’ve been playing more there,” Pérez said, “so it’s been great. I’m trying to catch every fly ball.”
Pérez is providing a much-needed boost to the Tigers’ offense. The Tigers promoted Pérez on April 8 to replace an injured Andy Ibáñez, but Ibáñez is set to return to the Tigers on Monday after recovering from a left hamstring strain.
Don’t worry.
Pérez is going to stick around for a while. “Just look at the smile and the ease that he plays with,” Hinch said. “Fearless, joyful. He believes in himself. He’s just having fun. He’s unafraid to make a mistake . ... We’re asking a lot out of him, not only being up in the big leagues but switch-hitter in the middle of the order, the last few days have been fun to see.”