If you are unfamiliar with Hedbert Perez, consider this your introduction. After a mid season update, he is ranked as the Brewers fourth best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Given his scouting profile and performance to date, fourth may be too low of a ranking.
Last year, Perez was the youngest player at the teams alternative training site. To begin 2021, the left-handed outfielder had been applying his talents at the Arizona Complex League (ACL). His first 32 games of pro ball have been extremely encouraging.
What To Like:
The strengths of Perez’s game is his overall consistency to do everything at an average or above average level. Fangraphs scouting guide on him rates the future value of all of his tools at 45 or higher. The only exception being a 30 arm grade, which means he may project best as a left fielder as he advances in the organization.
Perez’s future power numbers have a grade of 60. He is displaying this already by posting a .575 slugging percentage with 17 extra base hits through just 32 games at the Arizona Complex League. In terms of batted ball statistics, he has shown the ability to keep the ball off the ground with a fly ball percentage of 47.0%.
At the ACL, Perez’s slash line is .333/.394/.575. This is remarkable for a player in his first year of professional baseball. Among players in the ACL with more than 30 games played this season, Perez ranks second in OPS (.969) and fourth in wRC+ (147). So far he’s perfect in stolen base attempts and a 55 speed grade shows that he may be able to snag near double digit bases in a full season.
Areas For Improvement:
Given his current unsustainable numbers, peripheral numbers do indicate a potential for regression. This is best seen in batting average on balls in play (BABIP). Perez’s current BABIP is significantly elevated, residing at .425. With a very limited sample size, it is fair to assume that he will not sustain a .425 BABIP.
As per plate discipline, Perez does not have eye-popping numbers. He is walking only 6.1% of the time while striking out in 25.8% of his plate appearances. As more plate appearances follow, look for Perez to hopefully reduce his strikeout percentage and instead produce more of that pull-side magic that has lit up his statistical categories so far.
Earning A Promotion
According to none other than his own personal Instagram, it appears that the 18-year-old Venezuelan has been promoted. The Brewers have promoted him to Low-A Carolina where he likely will play out the remainder of the minor league season. As a very mature and advanced 18 year old, it seems the faith the Brewers put in him is already paying off.
Based on his IG story, it appears Hedbert Perez is getting promoted to Class A Carolina!! @GregYoungJr @BrewersFarm @CreamCityPro @Prospects1500
Congrats Hedbert! pic.twitter.com/l7YBecKC8l
— David Gasper (@dgasper24) August 29, 2021
Follow me on Twitter at @WyattVanDyke6and follow us @WiscoHeroics1 for more great content. Check out our merch page here and use promo code Wisco at check out for $1 off! To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
1 Comment
Truly an amazing writer… LOVE THIS!