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Like Paulino, Hector Perez came over in the Roberto Osuna trade.
Before the 2018 season John Sickels had him #9 on his Astros’ prospects list.
9) Hector Perez, RHP, Grade B-: Age 21, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2014; combined for 3.44 ERA with 128/78 K/BB in 107 innings between Low-A and High-A, just 78 hits; walks need to come down as he moves up but the stuff is quality, with mid-90s fastball and a breaking ball that draws 70-grades; change-up and overall command need work; has the hard stuff to close if the softer pitches don’t progress enough for him to start; the Ks and low Hs aren’t lying about his potential. ETA 2020.
I would love to see him in one of the spring games. He’s thrown 4.1 innings, in spring games, but not in one that has been on MLB.TV yet.
Last year he played for 3 minor league teams, starting in high A and then moving up to AA in the Astros organization and then playing in AA in New Hampshire. In total, 27 games, 18 starts, 3.76 ERA, 115.0 innings, 79 hits, 64 walks and 133 strikeouts. Other than the walks, it is a very good line.
That bought him the #14 spot on our top 40 prospects list, and got him a spot on the Blue Jays 40-man roster.
Hector will, most likely, start the season in New Hampshire, but, if he does well, there is always a chance he’ll get called up to Toronto at some point.
PECOTA predicts him to get 16 MLB innings. And, depending on whether they change the rules or not, he should get a September call up.