After going undrafted, catcher Carlos Perez set to start Hurricanes career
Carlos Perez is no longer a reluctant catcher.
But, for much of his young life, that would be a fair characterization of Perez, who was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. at age 11. Perez saw himself as a shortstop, but when his Miami youth-league team needed a catcher, his secret catching past was revealed.
“Carlos played catcher in Cuba,” Perez’s father, Guaracy, told the youth-league coaches.
Those words sealed the fate for Perez, who has been a catcher ever since and will play for the Miami Hurricanes next season.
Once Perez made the mental adjustment to playing catcher, he started watching major-leaguers such as Yadier Molina, former Miami Hurricane Yasmani Grandal and ex-Marlins star J.T. Realmuto.
Perez, who transferred from Miami Brito to Florida Christian for his sophomore year, has plus arm strength, impressive hands and above-average blocking and receiving ability, according to Baseball America. But, Perez, a switch-hitter, is not as advanced as a hitter.
“I’m biased, but, to me, Carlos is the best defensive catcher in the state and one of the best in the country,” Florida Christian coach Chris Brigman said. “He’s been calling his own game since his sophomore year.”
Perez hit .174 in an abbreviated senior year, although Brigman said that is a misleading statistic.
“His offense is a work in progress, but he was just getting ready to blow up,” Brigman said. “In his last game, he blistered two balls. He was getting it figured out.”
Indeed, in 205 career at-bats, Perez hit .327 with 16 doubles, three triples, four homers, 50 RBIs and a .927 OPS.
But, to be sure, defense is Perez’s calling card, and there’s a reason he is so athletic behind the plate.
“Part of my preparation is to field ground balls,” said Perez, who clearly hasn’t forgotten his love for playing shortstop. “Taking grounders helps with the way I move behind the plate.”
Perez, who was ranked by Baseball America as the 131st-best prospect in the recently completed MLB Draft, is one of four Canes recruits who went undrafted despite highly positive projections.
In fact, there were three Canes recruits — shortstop Yohandy Morales and pitchers Alejandro Rosario and Victor Mederos — who ranked among Baseball America’s top 12 undrafted players.
That makes for quite a recruiting haul for the Canes, who also return a team full of starters. The lineup figures to include at least three elite players: catcher Adrian Del Castillo, first baseman Alex Toral and third baseman Ray Gil.
If Morales is ready, he could start at shortstop, moving Anthony Vilar back to second. If not, Luis Tuero could play second again, with Vilar at short.
The outfield boasts Gabe Rivera, Jordan Lala and Tony Jenkins, with J.P. Gates at DH.
Perez could be Del Castillo’s understudy for a year before the latter turns pro, likely as a high draft pick.
Miami’s biggest issue will be the rotation. But Mederos, Rosario and fellow freshman Carlos Rodriguez will get opportunities, and the team is high on rising sophomore Alex McFarlane.
THIS AND THAT
▪ Two-thirds of Florida State’s weekend rotation was drafted: C.J. Van Eyk and Shane Drohan. But right-hander Carson Montgomery, the top undrafted player in 2020, returns. He was projected as a late first-rounder but didn’t get picked due to his bonus demands.
Two top veteran FSU players — Reese Albert and Elijah Cabell — will be back after going undrafted.
▪ The Florida Gators, ranked No. 1 in the nation when the 2020 season was stopped, lost no players in the draft, including ace pitchers Tommy Mace and Jack Leftwich.
The Gators did lose their two top recruits — outfielder Zac Veen and third baseman Coby Mayo. But many standout freshmen will make it to Gainesville, including shortstop Colby Halter and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons lefty Timmy Manning. Three other recruits to watch are pitchers Blake Purnell (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) and Franco Aleman (FIU transfer) and shortstop Jordan Carrion (Plantation American Heritage).
▪ Reigning College World Series champion Vanderbilt is getting two terrific American Heritage recruits in center fielder Enrique Bradfield and first baseman Gavin Casas.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 4:05 PM.