Joe Perez Hitting Ground Running In Pirates System

Formerly a second round pick by the Houston Astros, Joe Perez has gotten off to a great start since signing with the Pirates.

When you join a new organization, especially after getting released from your previous one, you generally want to get off to as good a start as possible.

Since joining the Pirates organization, Joe Perez has done nothing but hit for the Double-A Altoona Curve.

Drafted out of high school by the Houston Astros back in 2017 - 53rd overall - Perez was released on August 4th, after about a week he signed and joined the Curve.

He’s done nothing but hit since then, with a .326/.404/.696 slash in 12 games played so far. Of those 12 games he’s played, Perez has hit safely in 11 of them - and walked the only other.

Perez picked up four hits in five at-bats, including a double and home run in just his third game after being signed. Fast forward to Friday night where he hit his fifth home run for the Curve, and has 15 hits in 46 at-bats.

While he’s played exclusively in the outfield with the Pirates, he’s also played every infield position except for shortstop this season before getting released.

Certainly a small sample size, but it was an interesting move for the Astros, as Perez was a Top 10 prospect in their system not that long ago.

The Pirates have some former pop up prospects roaming the outfield in Altoona - with Matt Fraizer a former system Player of the Year winner, and Matt Gorski, who has some of the best raw power in the organization.

Add in Connor Scott and Lolo Sanchez, and the Pirates have had mostly the same outfield in Altoona for the last two seasons. Perez has given them a bit of a boost, and has even elevated the play of the others - Fraizer recently had a four hit game, and Gorski has reached safely in nine of 10 games since the signing.

Even though at this point it’s just a depth signing, getting a player of Perez’s caliber is an added bonus for a front office that emphasizes having as much depth as possible.