July 2019: Perez, a 16-year-old, signed with the Marlins, via scouts Angel Izquierdo and Fernando Seguinol, for $200,000. He was one of the more intriguing arms in the 2019 international free agent class.

Eury's dad, Eddy Perez stands 5-foot-3. His wife Xiomara is 5-foot-2. Their only son is a towering 6-foot-8 and an emerging Marlins prospect.

In both 2022 and 2023, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Perez as the #1 prospect in the Marlins organization.

A native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, Perez said there were no ballfields in his neighborhood. He and about seven other kids found a field under a bridge near a river. They borrowed softballs, a bat, and some old gloves from a neighbor . . . and that’s how his career began.

Perez was 6 years old.

He said he had a “fever” for baseball, and he asked his parents to put him in a proper league, but money was scarce.

“I told my mom to keep a ledger on what she spent,” Perez said. “I told her, ‘I will pay you back. I’m going to be really good.' "

Originally a position player, Perez became a pitcher at age 12 when coaches noticed his strong arm. At age 15, he grew six inches to 6-foot-3, and things took off from there.

However, two months after he signed with the Marlins, via scout Fernando Seguignol, his parents got fired from the shop where Eddy worked as a mechanic and Xiomara ran the cash register. Eury believes it had to do with jealousy regarding his signing bonus.

That $200,000 bonus Perez got, by the way, was down to $100,000 after his academy and league got their cut, he said. From there, he gave his parents money to buy a new mechanic shop, and he is highly motivated to eventually reach the majors.

“Everything I do,” Perez said, “is for my parents.”

Perez, who had to wear borrowed clothes after he grew so tall back home, can now afford his own wardrobe, and that includes Nike sneakers that he dreamed of but could never have before earning his bonus.

The Marlins, who project Perez to gain 20 pounds of good weight in the years ahead, are pleased with what they have seen from him so far.

“For a guy that tall and that young, he’s really coordinated and stays in his delivery well,” Erickson said. “He controls his effort, and that’s the reason he throws so many strikes. All he needs is more experience.” (Walter Villa - Baseball America - July, 2021)

2021 Season: Right-handed pitcher Eury Perez (Marlins No. 6): 20 starts, 3-5 record, 1.96 ERA, 108 strikeouts vs 26 walks in 78 innings.

What a surprise Perez was this season. The 6-8 18-year-old played competition older than him all year during his first season of pro ball and was nothing short of spectacular. His fastball hits 97 and he has a feel for both his changeup and curveball. The Marlins were cautious with him (and most pitchers) when it came to innings pitched. Perez never threw more than five innings in a start this year. It’ll be interesting to watch how he fares next year when the Marlins allow him to go deeper into games.

Marlins pitching prospect Eury Pérez has heard the word “suave” often this year.

It’s usually in the form of a request, a joking “take it easy on me” plea from opponents preparing to face his 98 mph fastball. The threat of seeing velocity isn’t what intimidates the hitters. It’s how quickly Pérez’s fastball gets on them. It might as well be a cartoon blur.

Pérez, the 19-year-old who had a chokehold of the Double-A Southern League for two months this year before a minor shoulder injury sidelined him at the beginning of August, is a giant. Standing 6-foot-9, if not an inch taller, he dwarfs competitors who are on average five years older. He is so big, his pitching coach asked Pérez at the start of the season to step to the back slope of the mound if he were to ever visit him mid-inning so he wouldn’t stare into Pérez’s chest when talking.

Pérez’s sheer size is but one item on a long list of attributes that have scouts raving about his potential. The young Dominican may soon join the ranks of his countrymen who have thrown 100 mph in the major leagues but he’s not a one-trick pony. His four-pitch arsenal flashes promise, with at least three plus or better pitches in the making. He has mental fortitude, honed during a year-long hiatus from throwing at a crucial time in his signing process. And the intelligence he has displayed while striking out one-third of batters he has faced in a challenging minor-league assignment is hard to find in anyone else his age.

“I had C.C. Sabathia there for a couple years,” said Dave Eiland, the former Yankees and Royals pitching coach now guiding Pérez and other Marlins pitchers at Double-A Pensacola. “He’s a big man, too. He had the same type of athleticism that Eury has. Not to be cliché, but this kid’s the total package. If there’s a better pitching prospect in minor league baseball, I’d love to see him. Matter of fact, I’d pay to see him.”

Pérez made an outsized impression early in his time working with Eiland. He was coachable and willing to take advice. When Eiland suggested they introduce a slider into his arsenal, Pérez needed no convincing. He simply adopted a grip and started practicing with it. He didn’t instantly throw MLB-caliber sliders, but the pitch was serviceable in game settings within two months. Now, it’s arguably even better than his original slurvy curveball.

A couple of weeks after Pérez debuted in Double A as the youngest player in Pensacola Blue Wahoo team history, Eiland saw an opening for another lesson. He sat his teenage pupil down at a between-starts meeting and pointed to a hitter’s elbow on a screen. “Pretend you’re a hitter and somebody’s throwing 98, 99 (mph) right up under your elbows and it’s whizzing right by your chest,” he told Pérez. “How’s that going to make you feel?”

Eiland’s point — that throwing his hard fastball inside for effect would enhance his entire arsenal — landed almost immediately. Pérez applied the strategy in his next start. The discomfort batters felt at being stood up was palpable, and their flailing offerings at Pérez’s subsequent sliders hastened Pérez’s buy-in. “That’s opened up a new world for him,” Eiland said.

Pérez’s aptitude for pitching and his raw stuff stood out to Eiland on film. But he didn’t anticipate Pérez’s ability to handle each challenge presented to him with preternatural poise. He didn’t expect Pérez to approach him on the bench and discuss pitch decisions while the teenager was in the middle of charting a teammate’s outing. He didn’t know Pérez’s inner drive to be great was fueled by his consistent study of the game around him.

Most 18- and 19-year-olds simply don’t possess the maturity required to be so thoroughly dedicated to a craft.

“You don’t want to tag him as great just yet because there’s a long way to go,” Eiland said. “But you can see it in the making. "If he continues to follow the natural flow of progression, Eiland wouldn’t be surprised to see Pérez touching 101 mph next year. The 19-year-old already has reached 100 mph in games, and Eiland has never seen him sacrifice his delivery to do so.

“He’s a diamond,” said Izquierdo, the Marlins scout who signed Pérez. “And he’s polishing himself. No one is doing it for him. He’s gifted.” (Torres-TheAthletic-Sep 8, 2022)

Feb 16, 2023: It's hard not to mistake Marlins top prospect Eury Pérez for ace Sandy Alcantara's shadow these days. Since the offseason, wherever Alcantara goes, so goes Pérez. Whatever Alcantara does, so does Pérez.

Alcantara taking Pérez under his wing is no coincidence considering his potential. That mentorship continued at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex, where they played catch, threw a bullpen session and did six rounds of a full-body workout — a daily routine Alcantara credits to his success.

"What can I say? Sandy's an unbelievable pitcher, he's a Cy Young winner," Pérez said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. "That's the ultimate goal as well, right? So I just want to go out there, compete and get on the big league level, and continue working really hard. Working with Sandy, he got me very strong. Working on my delivery, working the whole offseason with him was great, and hopefully we can work on the Major League level as well."

During a January workout that Pérez couldn't make because he was sick, Alcantara spoke about the pitcher they endearingly nicknamed "Pequeña Jirafa" (baby giraffe). Not many people tower over Alcantara (6-foot-5), but Pérez (6-foot-8) is the exception. Alcantara sees his younger self in Pérez, so Alcantara is hoping to teach him his ways and speed up Pérez's development.

"He's a little bit skinny," Alcantara said. "He needs to be a little bit more strong, but he's going to be there. He wants to be [in the big leagues] one day. You've got to start here. You've got to be up and up. He's started getting there. He's 19. He's taller than everybody here. Hopefully he can stop growing up. He just needs a little bit more weight. He's going to be fine."

This marks the first Major League Spring Training for Pérez, who turns 20 on April 15. He found a familiar face behind the dish for the bullpen session: Paul McIntosh, who caught some of his starts at Double-A Pensacola in 2022. Pérez's 35-pitch side looked "really good," per McIntosh. MLB Pipeline's No. 13 overall prospect put the ball to both sides of the plate, only yanking a couple of changeups. "How big he is and his ability to move the way that he moves," McIntosh said of what's most impressive about Pérez. "Not many guys that are 6'8" can move like that and throw the ball the way that they can, but it was pretty cool to catch him last year."  

Despite Pérez's age and inexperience — 2022 was only his second professional season — he expected a non-roster invitation this spring. With Alcantara, Johnny Cueto and Jesús Luzardo scheduled to compete in the World Baseball Classic, Pérez and No. 7 prospect Dax Fulton will receive opportunities to pitch in Grapefruit League games.

"At some point, one or a couple of those names are going to help impact some games for us," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said. "It's some good arms, some guys with some great stuff that are getting ready for the next challenge. And we're going to see them early in spring. You'll see those guys make starts and get outings rather quickly."

Like everyone else inside the clubhouse, Pérez's goal is to make the Opening Day roster. 

"Now that I'm here, all I want to do is enjoy every day," Pérez said. "Enjoy this time with my teammates and try to find a spot in the big league roster. I think I'm ready. I feel ready. I believe probably a little more experience I will need to obtain and face more experienced hitters. Some of that stuff will help me as well. I think I probably have to gain a little more weight, so I can maintain myself in the game a little longer and gain more stamina. Looking forward for the team to make a decision." (CD Nicola - MLB.com - Feb 16, 2023)

May 10, 2023: Since skyrocketing into the conversation of top prospects in baseball, right-hander Eury Pérez has drawn comparisons to Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. It’s only fitting that Alcantara, Pérez’s mentor, was the one to deliver the big news.

In a video uploaded by the Marlins’ Twitter account, Pérez entered Double-A Pensacola manager Kevin Randel’s office and was told they had to go over a few things before his promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville.

A clip of Pérez pitching was then interrupted by a video of Alcantara.

"I have bad news for you," Alcantara said in Spanish. "I am going to have to see your face every day now. My brother, do you think you are ready to pitch in the Majors? I'm happy for you, an opportunity well deserved. I'll see you soon. Love you, man."

“Exciting for him, exciting for the organization,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “Our top prospect has a bright future. Enormous talent. We're looking forward to seeing him take the mound. It's going to be a really exciting time for the organization to see him walk through that clubhouse, and for us.”

In his second season at Double-A Pensacola, Pérez had gone 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA and an 0.81 WHIP in six starts. Over his last four outings, he had taken it to another level, giving up just three runs with five walks and 30 strikeouts across 22 innings for a 1.23 ERA.

The Marlins had sent Pérez back to the Blue Wahoos rather than the Jumbo Shrimp in order to work on the finer parts of his game like fielding and holding runners. Plus, the schedule for a Triple-A rotation can be unstable with guys shuttling back and forth between the Minors and Majors. As recently as April 30, director of Minor League operations Hector Crespo told MLB.com that there had been conversations about when Pérez would receive a promotion.

On top of Pérez’s performance, the organization’s decision to promote him was facilitated by left-hander Trevor Rogers and right-hander Johnny Cueto remaining on the injured list for the foreseeable future.

“I think there was a need for him up here,” general manager Kim Ng said. “I also think when you're looking at him, he's throwing all his pitches for strikes, is commanding his pitches, and so those are the things that you really make sure that he can do before he gets here. He's shown that, so we're fine with him coming up.” 

Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, Pérez has been on the fast track ever since. Ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 10 overall prospect and No. 3 right-hander, the 6-foot-8, 220-pounder didn’t make his pro debut until ‘21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After compiling a 1.61 ERA in 15 starts for the Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads, Pérez received a promotion to High-A Beloit for five starts before the season ended. In 2022, he faced competition more than five years older than him at Double-A, making a midsummer appearance at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game but also missing two months due to a lat strain.

Pérez returned in time to help the Blue Wahoos win the Southern League championship. Miami then invited Pérez to his first big league Spring Training, where he appeared in four Grapefruit League games.

According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, Pérez's combination of size, stuff, maturity and polish is tough to top, starting with a fastball that parks at 94-97 mph and peaks at 100 mph. His deceptive upper-80s changeup generated a 61 percent swing-and-miss rate in 2022, while his mid-80s slider became a plus pitch more consistently than his curveball.

Bypassing the Triple-A level isn’t as unique as it once was, but it’s still quite the leap. Are there concerns about how the 20-year-old will fare? The most pitches Pérez has thrown in a game is 90, and he has completed six innings just four times in his pro career.

“This is going to be a situation where we are going to be watching him very closely and monitoring everything that goes on in the game, what his pitch count is, how stressful those pitches have been,” Ng said. “But it's going to be an entire group of people making sure that we do the best thing for him.” (CD Nicola - MLB.com - May 10, 2023) 

MLB Debut (May 12, 2023):  Years from now, when Eury Pérez reminisces about his Major League debut, what he’ll remember most is his first strikeout — a 98.1 mph four-seamer on the inside corner to freeze Tyler Stephenson to end the first inning. Afterward, he flashed a smile as big as his 6-foot-8 frame and pumped his fist while walking back to the dugout.

As an 8-year-old, Pérez dreamt of moments like that while playing plaquita on the streets of his hometown of Santiago, Dominican Republic. Pérez would go on to surrender a pair of solo homers over 4 2/3 innings to receive a no-decision in the 7-4 loss to the Reds at loanDepot park.  

“I think you don't know what you're going to do at the big league level until you actually do it, and he proved to himself that he's more than capable of getting guys out up here, and he's ready,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “That's a good lineup. They've got some real hitters over there. I knew I was going to be impressed anyways, but watching it live, the future is really bright.”

The precocious Pérez became the youngest pitcher in Marlins' history (20 years, 27 days), surpassing the late José Fernández, who was 20 years and 250 days when he made his debut in 2013. 

“I think it'll probably go start to start — whether it's five days in between, every fifth day, push back. You've got to monitor and protect him. I know he'll probably want to go. That's the nature of a 20-year-old; he'd probably go tomorrow. But we've got to protect him as much as you can, because he's a big part of our future.” That’s what Pérez’s family, friends and fellow countrymen watching on TV back home can only hope.

Mentor and Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara said Pérez’s debut, the youngest for a Dominican-born starting pitcher, was indeed a big deal, with partying expected around the country. (CD Nicola - MLB.com - May 12, 2023)  

May 18, 2023: Celebrating one’s first Major League victory is a rite of passage.

If Marlins top prospect Eury Pérez needed any reminding, ace Sandy Alcantara kept telling his mentee during the eighth inning to be prepared. Following Miami’s 5-3 victory over Washington at loanDepot park, Pérez’s teammates rolled him around in a cart and showered him with ketchup and other condiments.

“I told them I have new shoes, so please be careful with my shoes,” Pérez said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr.

Pérez’s second start was even better than his debut, as the 20-year-old right-hander allowed one run on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts over five innings. (CD Nicola - MLB.com - May 18, 2023)

Pérez, who turned 20 in April, has the second lowest ERA in baseball among pitchers with at least 80 innings, trailing only fellow rookie Javier Assad. He’s struck out more than a batter per inning across 17 starts. (Dodd - Sep 13, 2023 - The Athletic)

Tattoos: After becoming the youngest Dominican-born pitcher to start a Major League game, Pérez decided to pay tribute to his roots with his first tattoo. Pérez was inspired by a design he saw of the Statue of Liberty and decided to put a Dominican Republic spin on it. Across two sessions spanning 14 hours, the artist portrayed Pérez’s hometown of Santiago with the phone code, street signs and Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración on his left leg. There’s also the quote “Only the strong survive,” with a bat-wielding silhouette walking down a dark path.

How did the 20-year-old phenom’s parents feel about it?

“It was like half and half there,” Pérez said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “My mom said she was OK with it. She gave me the green light; but my dad, he never told me anything. He was hesitant to approve of the tattoo.” (Christina De Nicola - Feb. 29, 2024)

Eury's FASTBALL averages 98 mph and has touched triple digits, a 70 grade pitch with lots of movement, generating both above-average ride and arm-side run on the pitch. His CUTTER may be Perez's best pitch with a 70 grade, as he had a 50% whiff rate, a high chase rate and a swing rate above 50% in 2022.

Perez's CHANGEUP generates heavy whiffs and chases, while limiting contact and damage. It comes in at 89-91 mph, looks like a fastball, and then disappears with late sinking action; its a 60 grade. He also has a CURVEBALL and a SLIDER; and both are also 60 grade.

And, he has 65 grade control.

Perez has elite power across his arsenal and four pitches that could grade out as plus or better. It’s the combination of four unique shapes that all tunnel off of a similar release point that allows Perez's arsenal to stand out as much as any prospect.

Pérez's combination of size, stuff and polish is tough to top, starting with a fastball that parks at 94-97 mph and peaks at 100 and plays even better than its velocity thanks to its shape, running action and induced vertical break. His deceptive upper-80s changeup is just as nasty, generating an outstanding 61 percent swing-and-miss rate in 2022 thanks to its fade and tumble. After featuring an upper-70s curveball in the past, he added a tighter mid-80s slider last season that grades as plus more consistently than his bender. 

Considering his youth and size, Pérez is incredibly advanced on the mound. He has uncanny body control that allows him to keep his long limbs in sync, repeat his delivery and fill the strike zone. The Marlins also praise his maturity and mound presence, two more factors that should allow him to make his big league debut as a 20-year-old in 2023. (Spring 2023) 

After displaying a mid-80s fastball when the Marlins first scouted him, Perez worked at low-mid 90s during instructs in 2020 and operated at mid-90s last season, topping out at 98. His extra-long, super-lean frame still features plenty of projection, so there could be more velocity to come, and the shape, running action and induced vertical break on his heater could make it a plus-plus offering when he's a finished product.

He also owns a pair of promising secondary pitches, with his mid-80s changeup featuring some fade and tumble and grading as plus more consistently than an upper-70s curveball that he lands for strikes. 

Perez produces his intriguing stuff with a smooth delivery and little effort. He keeps his long limbs in sync with outstanding body control for someone his size and age and locates his pitches where he wants. He excelled while facing much older competition, exuding maturity and mound presence, and should continue to move rapidly. (Spring 2022)

Perez's allure is simple: He combines a powerful four-pitch mix with athleticism and command that ranks as exceptional for anyone but jumps off the page for someone of his size. His added strength has amplified his repertoire, which begins with a fastball that sits in the mid 90s and touches triple digits. Perez's excellent body control helps him command his fastball better than would be expected for someone his size. He worked hard to command the top of the strike zone in 2022 and elevate his fastball for swings and misses.

In 2021, Perez employed a curveball and a changeup. His changeup is his best off-speed pitch and grades as the best in the system, with outstanding fade and sink away from lefthanded hitters. In 2022, he added a slider to give his arsenal a more powerful breaking pitch that also would serve as an effective weapon against righthanders. This mid-80s pitch grades as a potential plus offering.

Perez's spike curveball is a two-plane breaker that serves as an effective strike-stealer early in counts and grades as at least above-average, though some evaluators have it a tick higher.

Eury has the ceiling of a true ace. He's the clear-cut best prospect in Miami's system and a candidate for the sport's best pitching prospect. (Josh Norris - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring 2022)

“But he’s not a finished product,” Marlins pitching instructor Dave Eiland said. “He’s working on controlling his emotions when things don’t go his way. Eury can create downhill angles to both sides of the plate. But it’s been a challenge to throw up in the zone.”

The Marlins have marveled at how well Perez can repeat his delivery, especially at 6-foot-8, 220 pounds.

“What’s amazing is how clean his mechanics are and how many strikes he throws,” Pensacola manager Kevin Randel said. “His command is impressive for a big kid.”

“Eury’s a future top-of-the-rotation guy. Health is the only variable. He has the ability, and Eury doesn’t shy away from pressure. He likes being the No. 1 prospect.”

Perez averaged 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings, allowed a .223 opponent average and a 1.16 WHIP in 2022. He accomplished those numbers as a 19-year-old at Double-A Pensacola, (Walter Villa - Baseball America - Oct., 2022)

Eury has a 92-99 mph FASTBALL that has excellent riding life and run, when thrown up in the zone. The Marlins were pleased with the pitch’s analytical characteristics and the way it played against much more experienced hitters. Eury has an 86-92 mph CUTTER He spins a fine 55 grade, 81-83 mph SLIDER with three-quarters break. He also has a 78-80 mph CURVEBALL that grades 50. And he has a nasty 55 grade CHANGEUP with solid fading action and is effective vs. both left- and right-handed hitters.

And his control is 60 grade.

Eury gets raw spin rates between 2,500 and 2,600 rpms on his fastball. His cutter boasts a near-70% strike rate, a 50% whiff rate and a 37% chase rate, all of which are elite percentages in those outcome metrics.

His low-80s slider and changeup both generate whiffs at a greater than 44% rate, with chase rates in the low-to-mid 30% range.

Perez’s ability to command his powerful arsenal has allowed him to excel at the upper levels at such a young age. (Geoff Pontes - Baseball America - Sept, 2022)

After displaying a mid-80s fastball when the Marlins first scouted him, Perez worked at 91-95 mph during instructs in 2020 and operated in the mid-90s during the 2021 season, topping out at 98.

His extra-long, super-lean frame still features plenty of projection, so there could be more velocity to come, and the shape, running action and induced vertical break on his heater could make it a plus-plus offering when he's a finished product. He also owns a pair of promising secondary pitches, with his mid-80s changeup featuring some fade and tumble and grading as plus more consistently than an upper-70s curveball that he lands for strikes. 

Perez produces his intriguing stuff with a smooth delivery and little effort. He keeps his long limbs in sync with outstanding body control for someone his size and age and locates his pitches where he wants. He excelled while facing much older competition, exuding maturity and mound presence, and should continue to move rapidly. (Spring 2022)

Perez has seen his stock skyrocket since joining the Marlins organization in 2019. The teenager has grown four inches and added 45 pounds since signing and pitched to a 1.96 ERA over 78 innings in his professional debut. Perez struck out 108 batters across two levels of A ball hitting mid-upper 90s with his fastball. The Dominican Republic native, who also throws a curveball and changeup, is full of projection as he continues to grow and mature both physically and mentally. (Spring 2022)

Eury pitches with the poise of a veteran. And he has the athleticism to control his long levers and pound the strike zone with his arsenal. He now has the upside of a front-end starter. (Josh Norris - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2022)

Late in the 2021 season, Eury was asked when he believes he will reach the majors.

“With God’s help,” Perez said in Spanish, “in two years.”

Pitching coach Bruce Walton, who worked with Perez for part of this season, said he hasn’t had to make much in the way of adjustments in the teenager's game.

“He already had a good idea of how to repeat his delivery,” Walton said. “We just talked about having a good direction toward home plate.”

Perez's four-seam fastball ranges from 93-97 mph, while his changeup averages 87 and his curveball averages 82.

“His fastball is usually at 95 and has good vertical movement,” Walton said. “His curve has good shape and is pretty consistent. And his changeup has more movement down than side to side.

"You want your changeup down, where you can get more chases.”

Perez said his balance, especially notable for his height, has always come naturally. “I’ve been able to control my body toward the plate,” he said. (Walter Villa - Baseball America - Nov., 2021)

He’ll need to improve his command and control and find a separator off-speed pitch in order to remain a starter. If he can’t stick there, he should be able to find a spot as a reliever who is poison to same-side hitters.

Perez' velo has continued to increase in pro ball. There's still a ton of projection remaining in his extra-tall frame once he matures physically. He also shows feel for spinning a curveball and some aptitude for using a changeup.

In addition to his stuff, Perez also impresses with how easily he generates it. He has a smooth delivery, keeps his long limbs in sync with surprising body control for such a tall teenager and fills the strike zone. He wasn't fazed by facing older hitters at instructional league, displaying mound presence that adds to his mid-rotation starter upside. (Spring 2021)

Eury produces easy heat from a smooth delivery.

“He’s done a nice job throwing strikes consistently,” said Jason Erickson, pitching coach for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins. “He has been developing his secondary pitches over the past several weeks. He has good feel for his changeup and nice spin on his slider.”

Eury stands out for his body coordination. While a lot of pitchers his size and age have arms and legs flying everywhere, Perez is able to control his delivery, with smooth arm action and fairly calm mechanics to be able to throw strikes. He leverages the ball well with downhill angle and does a good job of locating his fastball to both sides of the plate. (Ben Badler - Baseball America - Jan., 2020)

Nov 4, 2020: The youngest pitcher in the Marlins' instructional program, which ended Oct. 30, was also one of the most intriguing. In 2019, 17-year-old Eury Perez was 6-foot-5 and 155 pounds when he signed for $200,000 out of the Dominican Republic; and he has added four inches and 35 pounds since then. (J Callis - MLB.com - Nov 4, 2020)

2021 Season:  At both Low-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit, Perez recorded a 1.96 ERA in 78 innings. He allowed 43 hits and 26 walks, striking out 108. Perez was also named the Marlins 2021 Minor League Player Of The Year.

Standing 6-foot-8 and 200 pounds — four inches taller and 45 pounds heavier than when he turned pro two years ago — the 18-year-old Perez (the Marlins’ No. 6 prospect) was a standout on the mound for Jupiter in 2021. He struck out more than 13 batters per nine innings (82 K’s in 56 IP) and registering a 1.61 ERA before advancing to High-A for his final five appearances of the year.

Feb 2022: Ranked as Miami's No. 6 prospect, Perez earned a promotion to High-A Beloit after posting a 1.61 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in 15 starts for Low-A Jupiter during his first taste of pro ball. At the higher level, the righty didn't experience much of a regression against competition more than five years older than him, compiling a 2.86 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP in five starts. Perez, who turns 19 on April 15, was an easy choice for the organization's 2021 Pitcher of the Year.  (CD Nikola - MLB.com - Feb 2, 2022)

July 16, 2022: Pérez pitched in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Marlins top prospect tossed a perfect second inning on 10 pitches (seven strikes), facing two fellow Top 100 prospects. The 19-year-old was the youngest pitcher at the annual showcase of baseball's top prospects. (Christina De Nicola - MLB.com - July 16, 2022)

In 2022, Perez was named the Marlins Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America.

The only number on 19-year-old righthander Eury Perez's final ledger that qualified as anything less than remarkable was his 4.08 ERA in 75 innings for Double-A Pensacola.

His pitching coach Dave Eiland knows that minor league ERA—and his 3-3 record—can be deceiving.

"But all the other numbers—WHIP, batting average against, degree of contact against, exit velocity against, first-strike percentage . . . all of that paints a better picture for Eury," Eiland said.

In 17 starts for Pensacola this year, Perez averaged 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings, allowed a .223 opponent average and a 1.16 WHIP. He accomplished those numbers as a 19-year-old at Double-A.

Perez missed a little more than a month while dealing with soreness in the area of his right lat muscle that required an MRI. He made one rehab start for Low-A Jupiter before returning to Double-A for one more start before Pensacola headed to the Southern League playoffs.

Perez’s fastball averages 98 mph and has touched triple digits. His changeup, which comes in at 89-91, mph looks like a fastball and then disappears with late sinking action, and he also has a curveball and a slider, which need to be more consistent.

“But he’s not a finished product,” Eiland said. “He’s working on controlling his emotions when things don’t go his way.

“Eury can create downhill angles to both sides of the plate. But it’s been a challenge to throw up in the zone.”

The Marlins have marveled at how well Perez can repeat his delivery, especially at 6-foot-8, 220 pounds.

“What’s amazing is how clean his mechanics are and how many strikes he throws,” Pensacola manager Kevin Randel said. “His command is impressive for a big kid.”

“Eury’s a future top-of-the-rotation guy. Health is the only variable. He has the ability, and Eury doesn’t shy away from pressure. He likes being the No. 1 prospect.”  (Walter Villa - Sept 20, 2022)

June 25, 2023: Perez became the youngest pitcher to complete three consecutive scoreless outings of at least six innings each.  (Saras Langs - MLB.com)

Sept. 14, 2023: Pérez set down Sal Frelick on five pitches in the first inning to record his 100th career strikeout. Only one pitcher in franchise history reached 100 strikeouts faster than Pérez, in terms of innings pitched. Trevor Rogers pulled off the feat in 76 2/3 innings. Pérez did it in 84 innings.

2023 Season Timeline:

January 25—invited to Marlins spring training as non-roster invitee

March 20—reassigned to minor league camp

May 12—selected from Double-A Pensacola and made major league debut (final line: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO)July 7—optioned to Double-A Pensacola

August 7—recalled from Double-A Pensacola

September 23—placed on the 15-day injured list (left SI joint inflammation)

Season Stats: 91.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 10.64 K/9, 3.05 BB/9 (age 20)

Everybody agreed that Pérez was the best prospect in the Marlins organization entering the year, if not the best pitching prospect in all of baseball. With him continuing to dominate at the AA level and starting rotation pieces Trevor Rogers and Johnny Cueto both going down with injuries, the Marlins made the bold decision to call him up less than a month after his 20th birthday.

Because of his limited professional experience, Pérez was placed under careful workload restrictions. The Marlins didn’t want him going beyond six innings or 90 pitches in any start, and his total innings were being monitored as well. But when he was on the mound, “Baby Goat” quickly found success.

Through nine career starts, Pérez had a 1.34 ERA, including a 21-inning scoreless streak. His most notable outing came against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 19 after returning from a midseason minor league stint. Pérez went six shutout innings, striking out ten, walking zero and only giving up two hits in LA. He became the youngest MLB pitcher since Félix Hernández (2005) to record a double-digit strikeout game.

Pérez averaged 97.5 miles per hour with his four-seam fastball, almost as high as his mentor, Sandy Alcantara (98.0 mph). That number should go up even more as he fills out his 6’8″ frame.

Coming up through the minors, Pérez’s changeup was thought to be his best secondary pitch. It was surprising to see him use it only 9.8% of the time and account for only six of his 108 strikeouts. As he explained to Fish On First, because the Southern League was experimenting with tacky baseballs during the first half of this season, Pérez just didn’t feel as comfortable throwing changeups once making the switch back to normal MLB baseballs.

Despite that, Pérez did well against left-handed batters. Both his slider and curveball were unhittable at times.

Combining his appearances in the majors and minors, Pérez threw 128 innings this season. His previous single-season high was only 78. He struggled in September while pitching through back discomfort, so the Marlins shut him down near the end of the regular season and he didn’t make their Wild Card Series roster. (Oct. 10, 2023)

He's Miami's best pitching prospect since the late José Fernández lived up to the hype. In 2023, Perez logged a 1.34 ERA in his first nine starts and a 3.15 mark overall. Perez was as advertised as an elite prospect when Miami promoted him. He finished with a sub-4.00 ERA in 19 starts and averaged 97.5 mph on his fastball. 

2024 Improvements: Pérez nearly hit triple digits on his fastball and introduced a new curveball grip in his return to the mound during Spring Training.

2025 Improvements: Pérez made eight rehab appearances this season, posting a 1.99 ERA and a 2.70 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Notably, he's shown similar fastball velocity (averaging 97.6 mph and topping out at 99.9 mph) while incorporating some tweaks to his arsenal.

Pérez has not only added a sinker, he's also tweaked his curveball so it now more closely resembles a sweeper. He's continued to throw his four-seamer, changeup, and gyro slider. (R.J. Anderson & Dayn Perry - June 9, 2025 - CBS Sports)  

Aug 6-Sept 16, 2022: Perez was on the IL with soreness in the area of his right lat muscle, which required an MRI. 

Sept 21-Oct 5, 2023: Perez was on the IL with left SI joint inflammation.

March 13, 2024: Miami right-hander Eury Pérez exited in the first inning of the 2-1 Grapefruit League loss to the Nationals for precautionary reasons, due to discomfort from a broken nail on his right middle finger -- a recurring issue that has yet to be resolved.

“That's the problem,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “It's tough to build up when he has the fingernail, and it's 14 pitches, so obviously not ideal when you're trying to get to the 70-or-so pitch mark. We needed him to bulk up today, and [it] didn't happen. So try to figure out what's going on and make sure he can build up.”  March 22, 2024: Pérez's right elbow has no structural damage. Testing reveals mild inflammation. He is allowed to begin throwing.

March 22-Nov 4, 2024:  Perez has been diagnosed with inflammation in his right elbow and will begin the season on the 15-day injured list.

April 8, 2024: Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez underwent Tommy John surgery with an internal brace and will miss the rest of the season. The determination that surgery was necessary came after Pérez visited Dr. Keith Meister for the second time in less than two weeks after experiencing tightness in his elbow during his bullpen session.

Feb 7, 2025: Pérez threw his seventh bullpen session after beginning to play catch on Sept. 19.  He is still on track for a return from Tommy John surgery around the All-Star break.

June 2025: Perez came off the IL.