South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 36: Andrew Pérez

Mar 24, 2023 - 10:44 PM

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Andrew Pérez

Left-Handed Relief Pitcher
6´2´´
215 pounds
Age: 25
2019 SSS Top Prospect Ranking 53
2020 SSHP Top Prospect Ranking 34
2021 SSS Top Prospect Ranking 34
2022 SSS Top Prospect Ranking 42
2022 High Level Charlotte (AAA)
Age relative to high level -3.0 years
SSS rank among all left-handed relief pitchers in the system 1
Overall 2022 stats 3-4 ⚾️ 59 games (1 start, 11 finishes) ⚾️ 2 SV ⚾️ 5.74 ERA ⚾️ 1.388 WHIP ⚾️ 72 K ⚾️ 27 BB

Andrew Pérez, after a typically unsuccessful freshman season, excelled out of the pen for the University of South Florida during his sophomore and junior years. As a junior for the Bulls, Pérez posted a 2.34 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 24 relief appearances. In his 42 innings, he surrendered just 37 hits (.233 OBA) and 12 walks (6.9%) while striking out 50 (28.6%). As a result, the White Sox selected him in the eighth round of the 2018 draft.

As an encore with Great Falls and Kannapolis after the draft, Pérez combined with both teams for a 2.59 ERA and 1.18 WHIP by allowing 24 hits (.214 OBA) and 13 walks (9.8%) while striking out 31 in 31 1⁄3 innings (23.3%).

The following year, 2019, saw Pérez split his time nearly evenly between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem. While his numbers were good throughout, he gave up more hits with the Intimidators but relinquished more free passes with the Dash. Combined with both teams in 41 relief appearances spanning 67 1⁄3 innings, Pérez posted a 1.74 ERA and 1.37 WHIP by allowing 63 hits (.239 OBA) and 29 walks (9.8%) while fanning 86 (29.0%). Pérez actually fared better against righties (.230 OBA) as opposed to lefties (.265 OBA).

After the 2020 minor season was cancelled by the pandemic, Pérez pitched all of 2021 in Double-A. In 31 relief appearances, he posted a 3.50 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. During his 43 2⁄3 innings with the Barons, Pérez surrendered 40 hits (.238 OBA) and 12 walks (6.5%) while striking out an impressive 59 hitters (31.7%). Opponents hit grounders 35.4% of the time against his offerings, while lefties (.241) and righties (.237) produced nearly equal results against him.

Keeping his patter up the affiliate ladder consistent, Pérez was moved up to Triple-A Charlotte in 2022 and pitched a full season there. However, his results in the offense-friendly confines of Charlotte indicate that further season is necessary there in 2023: homers took a huge leap and Pérez’s normally fine K/BB was shaved to mediocre.

Pérez’s Baseball Cube player ratings
Durability 85
Strikeouts 78
K/BB 71
Walks 60
Hittable 58
vs. Power 58
Team Winning Percentage .527

Pérez features a 95 mph heater according to Baseball America, along with a slurvy breaking ball. With a dearth of harder-throwing lefties (or lefties at all) in the high-minors pens, there are multiple scenarios that would see Pérez hitting the South Side in 2023. But he will have to find a way to elude the long ball in Charlotte first.

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2023 South Side Sox Top 101 White Sox Prospects

36. Andrew Pérez, LHRP
37. Duke Ellis, LF
38. Nicholas Padilla, RHRP
39. Dylan Burns, RHSP
40. Gil Luna Jr., LHRP
41. Eric Adler, RHRP
42. Garrett Schoenle, LHSP
43. Lane Ramsey, RHRP
44. Caleb Freeman, RHRP
45. Hunter Dollander, RHSP
46. Chase Solesky, RHSP
47. Godwin Bennett, RF
48. Wilber Sánchez, SS
49. Tyler Neslony, LF
50. Mario Camilletti, 2B
51. Sammy Peralta, LHRP
52. Jacob Burke, CF
53. Moisés Castillo, SS
54. Victor Quezada, 3B
55. Edgar Navarro, RHRP
56. Craig Dedelow, RF
57. Darío Borrero, 1B
58. Michael Turner, C
59. Tyler Osik, 1B
60. Haylen Green, LHRP
61. Mark McLaughlin, RHRP
62. Terrell Tatum, LF
63. Shawn Goosenberg, 2B
64. Randel Mondesí, LF
65. Emerson Talavera, RHRP
66. Declan Cronin, RHRP
67. Fraser Ellard, LHRP
68. Colby Smelley, C
69. Ethan Hammerberg, RHRP
70. Lincoln Henzman, RHRP
71. Vince Vannelle, RHRP
72. Brooks Baldwin, 3B-2B
73. James Beard, CF
74. Gabriel Rodríguez, RHSP
75. Ronny Hernandez, C
76. Troy Claunch, C
77. Brooks Gosswein, LHSP
78. Tim Elko, 1B
79. Yoelvín Silven, RHRP
80. Trey Jeans, LHRP
81. Jerry Burke, RHSP
82. Carlos Jiménez, 1B
83. Mason Adams, RHSP
84. Frankeli Arias, LHSP
85. Ernesto Jaquez, RHSP
86. Laz Rivera, 3B
87. Xavier Fernández, C
88. Álvaro Agüero, CF
89. Ben Norman, RF
90. Erick Bello, RHRP
91. Adisyn Coffey, RHRP
92. Arnold Prado, RF
93. Alsander Womack, 2B
94. Johan Domínguez, RHSP
95. Evan Skoug, C
96. Noah Owen, RHSP
97. Javier Mora, 2B
98. Will Kincanon, RHRP
99. Yohemy Nolasco, RHSP
100. Billy Seidl, RHRP
101. José Rodulfo, RHRP

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