Martín Pérez Bio
Martín Pérez Jiménez, born April 4, 1991, is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who has spent more than a decade pitching in Major League Baseball. A left-hander known for his craft, control, and durability, Pérez first came up through the Texas Rangers system and went on to play for the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox. He earned an American League All-Star selection in 2022 and won the 2023 World Series as a member of the Rangers. After a brief stint with the Atlanta Braves organization, Pérez became a free agent and remains unsigned heading into the next chapter of his career.
Across his MLB career, Pérez has built a reputation as a steady, innings-eating starter who can take the ball every fifth day. He has logged a win-loss record of 97-96 with a 4.35 earned run average and 1,209 strikeouts, according to statistics through mid-June 2026. While he has not always been a strikeout pitcher, his value has come from limiting damage, working quickly, and giving his teams a chance to win.
Early Life and Background
Martín Pérez Jiménez was born on April 4, 1991, and grew up in Venezuela, a country with a deep tradition of producing major league pitching talent. From a young age, he developed an interest in baseball and quickly stood out for his left-handed delivery and advanced feel for pitching. His combination of size, poise, and arm action made him one of the most talked-about young prospects in his home country during the mid-2000s.
Coming from a baseball-rich region, Pérez drew attention from international scouts while still in his teens. He signed with the Texas Rangers as an undrafted international free agent in 2007, receiving a $580,000 signing bonus. That deal was a sign of the club’s belief in his long-term potential, even though he was years away from the major leagues.
Path to Professional Baseball
After signing with the Rangers, Pérez began his climb through the minor leagues. In his first taste of professional baseball, he made 15 short starts at the Rookie level in Spokane, going 1-2 with a 3.65 earned run average in 62 innings. Even with the small sample size, his performance was enough to put him on the national prospect map. By 2010, Baseball America had ranked him as the 17th-best baseball prospect in the game, validating the Rangers’ decision to invest in him years earlier.
Pérez continued to develop in the lower levels of the Rangers system, refining his command and adding polish to his breaking ball and change-up. He reached Triple-A Round Rock and, by the middle of 2012, was ready for his first opportunity in the big leagues. His rise through the minor leagues set the stage for a debut that would launch a career spanning more than a dozen seasons in the majors.
Martín Pérez Career
Early Career (2012-2018)
Pérez made his major league debut on June 27, 2012, appearing in relief against the Detroit Tigers. A few days later, on June 30, he earned his first major league start against the Oakland Athletics, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs in a 7-2 win. He returned to Triple-A later that summer but had clearly announced his arrival.
The 2013 season showed real progress. Pérez went 10-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 20 starts, threw his first career complete game against the Houston Astros, and looked like a future front-line starter. That November, the Rangers rewarded him with a four-year, $12.5 million contract that included three club options. In April 2014, Pérez delivered back-to-back complete-game shutouts against Oakland, but he was soon diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2014 and missed the rest of that season, returning to the active roster in July 2015. Across 2016 and 2017, he was a regular in the Rangers rotation, posting records of 10-11 and 13-12, although advanced metrics painted a more mixed picture of his performance. In 2018, he struggled to a 2-7 record with a 6.22 ERA before reaching free agency.
Minnesota Twins (2019)
On January 30, 2019, Pérez signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins, where he was expected to compete for a rotation spot. He made 32 appearances with 29 starts, finishing the year 10-7 in 165 1/3 innings. He led the major leagues in walks per nine innings and posted the highest WHIP in baseball, an indication of his command struggles that season. After the year, he became a free agent once again.
Boston Red Sox (2020-2021)
Pérez joined the Boston Red Sox on December 19, 2019, agreeing to a one-year deal with a team option for 2021. In the shortened 2020 campaign, he went 3-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts and led the American League in walks per nine innings. Boston declined his option, and he re-signed with the Red Sox in February 2021 on a one-year, $4.5 million contract.
During the 2021 regular season, Pérez made 36 appearances with 22 starts, going 7-8 with a 4.74 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 114 innings. He was moved to the bullpen in early August, spent time on the COVID-related injured list, and returned in mid-September. In the postseason, he made four relief appearances in the American League Championship Series against Houston, allowing five runs in three innings. After Boston again declined his option, he reached free agency for the second time in three years.
Texas Rangers Second Stint (2022-2023)
On March 14, 2022, Pérez returned to the Texas Rangers on a one-year, $4 million contract. He enjoyed a renaissance season, going 12-8 with a 2.89 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 196 1/3 innings across 32 starts. On May 29, 2022, he carried a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Houston Astros before Chas McCormick broke it up with a double. His strong year earned him a selection to the American League All-Star team, the only All-Star nod of his career.
After the 2022 season, Pérez accepted a one-year qualifying offer worth $19.65 million to remain with the Rangers for 2023. Texas rode a deep rotation and a powerful lineup all the way to the World Series title, giving Pérez his first championship ring and cementing a remarkable comeback story for the veteran left-hander.
Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres (2024)
On January 5, 2024, Pérez signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 16 starts, he went 2-5 with a 5.20 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 83 innings, a difficult stretch that led Pittsburgh to move him at the trade deadline. On July 30, 2024, the Pirates sent him to the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitcher Ronaldys Jimenez.
With San Diego, Pérez rediscovered some of his old form. In 10 starts down the stretch, he went 3-1 with a 3.46 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 52 innings, helping stabilize the Padres rotation as they pushed for a postseason spot. His strong second half gave him momentum heading into the next winter.
Chicago White Sox (2025)
On January 21, 2025, Pérez signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. His season was disrupted almost immediately by injury. On April 19, he was placed on the injured list with inflammation in his throwing elbow, and two days later he was moved to the 60-day IL. The team announced on April 22 that a flexor strain would keep him out for the majority of the year. He returned in mid-August, but struggled to a 1-6 record with a 3.54 ERA in 11 total appearances and 10 starts. On September 19, a shoulder strain officially ended his season, and he later declined the 2026 option in his contract, becoming a free agent on November 4.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pérez is a left-handed pitcher who relies on command, pitch movement, and deception rather than overpowering velocity. His arsenal features a four-seam fastball that sits around 93 miles per hour, a sharp breaking curveball, and a change-up, and he has long drawn comparisons to crafty veterans like Johan Santana and Greg Maddux. His ability to work both sides of the plate, change speeds, and keep hitters off balance has allowed him to remain a reliable major league starter for more than a decade, even as his raw stuff has never been mistaken for elite.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Pérez’s career are his 2014 back-to-back complete-game shutouts against Oakland, his 2022 All-Star selection, and his role on the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers. He has also represented Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic in both 2017 and 2023, pitching in high-pressure international matchups against Puerto Rico and the United States. His walk-free complete game on April 23, 2014, and his near-perfect game in 2022 stand out as signature moments.
Martín Pérez Career Wins
Throughout his MLB career, Pérez has accumulated 97 regular-season wins while pitching for seven different major league franchises. His victory total reflects his durability and longevity, even as he has moved between rotations and roles. The 2022 season, when he went 12-8 and helped anchor the Rangers’ run to a championship, is widely viewed as the peak of his big-league career.
Major League Highlights
Pérez’s most meaningful wins have come in a Rangers uniform, including his first career start victory over Oakland in 2012 and his 2022 All-Star campaign. He added a World Series ring that same year cycle when Texas captured the 2023 title, a moment that defined his second stint in Arlington. More recently, his strong run with the San Diego Padres in the second half of 2024 reminded teams that he could still eat innings and compete.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his major league accomplishments, Pérez has suited up for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, contributing starts in both 2017 and 2023. While Venezuela did not advance deep into the tournament in either appearance, Pérez’s willingness to represent his country on the international stage remains a notable part of his résumé.
Martín Pérez Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Pérez was born in Venezuela and raised in a baseball-loving culture that helped shape his path to the major leagues. He is known to be active on social media, where he shares insights into his training and life as a professional pitcher, but he tends to keep most of his personal and family life private. There is no widely verified public information about his spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved to be one of the most difficult of Pérez’s career. Signed by the Chicago White Sox in January, he was limited to just 11 appearances and 10 starts before injuries shut him down for the year. He posted a 1-6 record with a 3.54 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 56 innings, numbers that did not match his usual workload or win totals. A flexor strain in his throwing elbow kept him out from late April through mid-August, and a subsequent shoulder strain ended his campaign in mid-September.
Despite the setbacks, Pérez showed flashes of his old form in his late-season returns, particularly in quality starts that gave the White Sox a chance to win. He declined the 2026 option in his contract and became a free agent in early November. With several teams always in search of veteran starting depth, Pérez’s mix of experience, postseason pedigree, and recent World Series championship could make him an attractive target on the open market.