An unexpected contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks momentarily changed the retirement plans of Mexican pitcher Oliver Pérez, who at 40 years of age, has a place in the Minor Leagues with the possibility of being taken into account in the Majors for this campaign. 2022, which will start on April 7 and in which he would be completing his twentieth season in Major League Baseball (MLB).
In the context of a strike in the Big Tent that began last December 2 and lasted for almost 100 days, the native of Culiacán, Sinaloa, was planning his dream retirement; The idea, as he stated, was to start this year pitching with the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB), and culminate with the Tomateros de Culiacán in the Mexican Pacific League (LMP), to later possibly participate in the Series del Caribe and if required by the Mexican National Team, play the World Baseball Classic that would be organized in March 2023.
“If it comes, fine,” Pérez had commented, in relation to a possible invitation to play the 2022 season in the Major Leagues.
And a few days later the call came through the Arizona Diamondbacks, immediately joining the training that the organization develops in the Cactus League. However, his permanence will be determined once Spring Training is over, since he has conditioned his stay to play in the Majors, otherwise, if he is placed in the Minors, his decision will be to return to Mexico to join the Toros and continue with the original retirement plan.
Oliver Pérez, a left-handed pitcher, was signed by the San Diego Padres as an amateur free agent in 1999. He made his debut with them in 2002. To date, he has played in the Major Leagues for the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals and the Cleveland Indians. With the shirt of the Mexican Baseball Team he has participated in the World Baseball Classics of 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017.
With 19 seasons in MLB baseball, Pérez has a career record of 73 wins, 93 losses and a 4.34 ERA, in addition to 1,545 prescribed strikeouts in 1,461.2 innings pitched.
“What does Oliver have to prove this year?” the legendary major leaguer was asked.
“Just enjoy it as I have done lately, prepare myself physically to take it in the most professional way and go well, not just because this is my last year, I’m just going to come sit down and wait for things to happen, I’m going to continue fighting as I have always done, working day by day to stay healthy, which is the most important thing, and to enjoy the game that at the end of the day is a sport and a game”, he emphasized.
In any case, Oliver Pérez is already a legend for Mexican baseball by registering his name with the record as the player with the greatest number of seasons in the Major Leagues by accumulating 19, subject to the fact that the one that is about to begin becomes his twentieth.
So, the two most experienced closers; Oliver Pérez, and the only Mexican winner of three World Series champion rings, Sergio Romo “El Mechón”, will have the opportunity to continue showing themselves in MLB and fight because this is not their last year in the best baseball on the planet.
@salvadorcosio1
