Position: RHP
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 261 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 03/08/1989
Country: Dominican Republic
Signed: International Free Agent, 2005 (Brewers)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Bonus: $450,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: N/A
Overview
From 2013-16, Peralta was a rotation mainstay for Milwaukee, putting up one very good season and three decent ones. Ever since then, he’s been struggling to return to form with any consistency. Through 2019, Peralta relied mainly on a fastball and slider, the former usually averaging 95-96 mph. His velocity dropped to around 94 in 2020-21, even though he’d moved to relief, then increased to 95.5 in 2022. In those years he mixed a four-seamer, sinker, slider and splitter. Peralta’s never been a big strikeout pitcher in the majors, but up through 2017 he had good control. Since then, he’s had consistent trouble with walks. He’s a groundball pitcher, but a bit less so starting in 2017. For his career his platoon split is just moderate, with an OPS of .808 against left-handed hitters and .739 against right-handed hitters.
2006-10
The Brewers sent Peralta straight to the Arizona League in 2006. He struggled there and blew out his elbow, leading to Tommy John surgery that cost him 2007. He put in a partial season in advanced rookie ball in 2008 and had impressive numbers. In 2009 he went to Low Class A, then on to High A and AA in 2010. He put up solid, but not dominating, numbers at all three stops, and impressed scouts with all his pitches. He moved up the Brewers’ Baseball America prospect list, ranking fifth after the 2010 season. The Brewers added him to their 40-man roster that fall.
2011-12
In 2011, Peralta had a good season in AA, finishing with five very strong starts in AAA. Other than one early-season appearance in the majors, he spent most of 2012 in AAA. He got off to a very bad start, but improved sharply in the second half. The Brewers brought him up for September and he pitched very well over five starts. BA rated him the Brewers’ best prospect after both seasons.
2013-16
Peralta stayed in the Milwaukee rotation throughout 2013 and 2014. He threw 382 innings combined, going 11-15, 4.37 the first year and 17-11, 3.53 the second. In both seasons he showed solid control but didn’t strike out a large number of hitters, with K/9 figures of 6.3 and 7.0. In 2015, Peralta missed two months with a strained oblique. He started 20 games in the majors, with a 4.72 ERA and just a 5.0 K/9.
In 2016, Peralta had a 6.68 ERA in mid-June and the Brewers optioned him to AAA. He came back up and posted a 2.92 ERA in ten starts the rest of the way, going five innings in one and at least six in all the others.
2017-20
Peralta struggled from the outset of 2017, with his control suddenly getting worse. He spent time in the bullpen, starting only eight games for Milwaukee, and missed a month with a calf strain. The Brewers finally outrighted Peralta to AAA at the beginning of August; at the time, he had a 7.85 ERA and 1.83 WHIP.
After 2017, Peralta became a free agent and signed a deal with Kansas City. It was a major league deal, but the Royals outrighted him to AAA at the end of 2018 spring training. He pitched in relief there, and not especially well, but the Royals called him back up in June and he appeared in 37 games in relief, posting a 3.67 ERA and serving as closer often enough to pick up 14 saves. Peralta spent most of 2018 with the Royals and struggled to a 5.80 ERA in 42 relief outings. Kansas City designated him for assignment in late July and he didn’t appear in affiliated ball after that, or in 2020.
2021-23
Peralta signed a minor league deal with Detroit for 2021 and, after pitching well in AAA, got called up in time to make 18 starts for the Tigers. He had a bounce-back season, with a 3.07 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, although he struck out only 5.6 per nine innings. He became a free agent again after the season and finally signed a minor league deal with the Tigers during spring training. The Tigers called him up again in mid-April 2022 and he got into 28 games with them, all but one in relief. He also missed a month with a hamstring strain. Peralta put up a good ERA again, at 2.58, but had poor peripherals: a 5.6 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9.
After 2022, Peralta again became a free agent and again got only a minor league deal, this time with Washington. He made 24 starts for them in AAA and had a rough time, with a 6.31 ERA. He became a free agent again after the season and signed a minor league deal with the Pirates for 2024.
Stats
Transactions
November 26, 2005: Signed as an international free agent by the Milwaukee Brewers.
November 17, 2010: Contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers.
August 3, 2017: Outrighted to AAA by the Milwaukee Brewers.
October 3, 2017: Became a free agent.
December 5, 2017: Signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Royals.
March 31, 2018: Outrighted to AAA by the Kansas City Royals.
June 17, 2018: Called up by the Kansas City Royals.
July 20, 2018: Designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals; elected free agency on July 24.
February 19, 2021: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Detroit Tigers.
June 15, 2021: Called up by the Detroit Tigers.
November 3, 2021: Became a free agent.
March 16, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Detroit Tigers.
April 16, 2022: Called up by the Detroit Tigers.
August 22, 2022: Released by the Detroit Tigers.
February 3, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Washington Nationals.
November 6, 2023: Became a free agent.
January 31, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.