Baltimore Orioles: Carlos Perez Plays Big Part In Bowie’s Winning Ways

Following a 7-23 start to the 2019 season, the Bowie Baysox went on a roll and a catcher with MLB experience has been the unsung hero of that winning roll for the Baltimore Orioles affiliate.

The Bowie Baysox horrendous start to the 2019 season has been well chronicled.  The team that started with a 7-23 record and finished the first half of the Eastern League season in fifth place in the Western division with a 30-38 record is currently in first place in the second half with a 26-8 record.  The turn-around for the Baltimore Orioles affiliate has been both remarkable and fun to watch.

The winning ways have been a group effort in Bowie, both at the plate and on the pitching mound.  A person close to the team suggested that catcher Carlos Perez has been the unsung hero of the winning ways; the numbers bear that out.

Perez, who has four years of major league experience, was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as a minor league free agent in January and was a non-roster invitee to spring training.  He started the season in Norfolk where he appeared in seven games before being moved to Bowie on April 20th.  Splitting playing time at catcher, first base and designated hitter, Perez became the full-time catcher when Martin Cervenka was placed on the 7-Day IL on June 3rd.  On that day the Baysox were 20-35. They have gone 36-11 since then with Perez behind the dish.

Perez has appeared in 40 of those 47 games and has produced a slash line of .275/ .335/ .483 with 19 runs scored, eight home runs, and 27 RBI.  During that span, he committed only two errors, one as a catcher and one at first base.  He has allowed just one passed ball and is throwing out 53% of would-be base stealers.

Perez is in the midst of a 26 game on-base streak which is the longest active streak in the Eastern League; he is one game away from tying the longest on-base streak of the season.

His veteran presence has helped the Baysox pitching staff thrive.  He was even credited by Michael Baumann with playing a big part in his recent no-hitter. Immediately interviewed on MASN after his historic game, Baumann was asked what was working for him that night; he quickly responded with a short and direct answer- “Carlos Perez.”

The native of Valencia, Venezuela has proven to be beneficial in the development of the Orioles farmhands.  Players such as Perez are valuable to any organization and based on recent performance, both individually and as a team, he has provided that value.