Prospect Countdown: #24 Wilfredo Perez

Wilfredo Perez might look like a little kid on the field, but he unleashes a major league arsenal. Read on to get a detailed scouting report on the 23 year old southpaw.

The Stats

DOB: 08/12/1984

B-L/T-L

HT: 6-0 WT: 145 POS: P

Delmarva Shorebirds - (27 G, 8 GS, 81 ip, 1.67 ERA, 108 K, 28 BB, 3 HR, 2.11 GO/AO)

Background

Wilfredo Perez was expected to miss all of 2006 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but the 23 year old southpaw came back quickly and finished the season strong. He picked up where he left off in 2007 and put in one of the most dominating performances at any level in the organization.

Scouting Report

Due to his obvious injury concerns and extremely slight frame, Perez worked mostly from the bullpen this year. He has the arsenal to start, but he seems to fade after a few innings of work anyway.

Perez's bread-and-butter is a lively fastball that sits at 88-92 MPH. He gets lots of movement on it, forcing hitters to pound it into the ground, despite its flat plane. He also has a promising curveball and a solid changeup.

Timetable

Despite spending 2007 in low-A Delmarva, Wilfredo Perez isn't far away from Baltimore. He needed a consolidation season in full-season ball after his injury, but he should move fast in 2008. He'll start out in Frederick's bullpen, but don't be surprised if he spends significant time in the high minors. It's even feasible that he sniffs Baltimore, considering the fluid nature of next year's bullpen.

Michael Hollman is the Senior Writer for Inside The Warehouse and can be reached via e-mail at