Tampa Bay Devil Rays Prospect, Fernando Perez

We have a new rising star we'll be rooting for in future seasons--Tampa Bay prospect Fernando Perez. I saw Perez talk to a young boy at our first AFL game this season, and his manner and respect for the fans stood out from his peers. Today, after the championship game ended, Perez's interaction with young fans earned our respect and admiration.

Perez, a 23-year-old center fielder for the Devil Rays, certainly has his work cut out for him with such talent as Delmon Young and Carl Crawford standing in his path. Nonetheless, Perez plays with flair in the outfield, and his running catch of a blast over his head ended the game with a touch of the dramatic. The young man, who played at Visalia in the California League this past season, is from Elizabeth, NJ and attended Columbia University (no small feat in its own right). At Visalia, he batted .307 with 33 stolen bases and close to a .400 on base percentage. He was a seventh round pick in 2004 an we hope he's headed for big things. He's a class act all the way.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• baseball
• Tampa
• Rays
• Perez

[rays130226]

Feranando Perez went to an Ivy League college, Columbia. He has a shot to make the team in 2008.

[allen85255]

He made the Southern League All-Star Team, but oddly he's not listed among Baseball America's top 10 Rays prospects.

[tqdvorak]

welcome to the cubs. we needed speed soooooooooo bad

[TheDJ596]

Where is fernando perez now? Nobody knows. Its funny how the caption mentions delmon young and carl crawford as rising stars along with perez.

[scotty213ful]

wow i met this guy before 

[pasatio]

Cuz he's not afro American, he's a son of Afro Cubans. Just like sons of Korean, Chinese, or Indian immigrants speak normal English.

[whizzle55]

wow he talks really white

[hardy0109]

i just met him today at the rays game....hes going to be real good one day. im tellin you right now

[BloodshotDan121]

my dad met this guy in new jersey and has some pictures.they met because my dad works for Zico pure coconut water and fernando perez was giving it out to people at an event.he really digs the drink and it gives Zico some publicity with the MLB like manny ramirez who was in an interview drinkin zico and saying that it was the best.

[getsasc]

I saw him play in a game in Phoenix in 2006. It was the first time going to a summer/minor leage baseball game. This was my first experience to a live game also...at age 39.

After the game, he began signing and tossing items back and forth from the field to the stands. He noticed my curiousity, smiled and tossed his white batting glove towards me. I grabbed it in amazement and said "Mr. Perez, could you sign it for me? Please.". He smiled, I tossed, he signed and tossed it back! :-)

[guitarfreak529]

shut the fuck up , stupid spic