Odalis Pérez
Encyclopedia
Odalis Amadol Pérez is a former Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
. He played with the Atlanta Braves
(-), the Los Angeles Dodgers
(-), the Kansas City Royals
(2006-), and the Washington Nationals
.
On May 2, 1999, Pérez got his first regular-season victory pitching 5.2 innings
and allowing two earned runs
with seven strikeout
s, as Atlanta rolled to a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds
.
On January 15, 2002, he was traded by the Braves with Andrew Brown (minors) and Brian Jordan
to the Dodgers for Gary Sheffield
.
pitcher
in the National League
, joining Tom Glavine
behind Randy Johnson
and Al Leiter
, and 10th most in the majors. Beside this, he was the first Dodger left-hander to register at least 12 wins in consecutive seasons since Fernando Valenzuela
accomplished the feat between (21) and (14). During the same period, Pérez also had the sixth-most strikeouts mark (296) among all majors lefties, ranking fourth in the National League behind Johnson, Randy Wolf
and Leiter.
Also in those two seasons, Pérez allowed two earned runs or less in 33 of his 62 starts, being selected to the All-Star
game in 2002 — a season in which he pitched a pair of one-hitter games.
A career highlight for Pérez occurred on August 28, 2002, as he defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks
at Dodger Stadium
with a score of 1-0, during which he pitched 8.0 scoreless innings AND slugged his first career home run for the only run of the game. With this victory, he became the first Major League pitcher to win a 1-0 game and hit the game-winning homer since the Dodgers’ Bob Welch accomplished the feat on June 17, 1983. This game also marked the beginning of closer
Éric Gagné
’s record-breaking streak, the first game of 84 consecutive saves.
in exchange for Elmer Dessens
. Cash considerations were also sent to the Royals in the deal.
On October 31, 2007, the Royals declined Perez's $9 million option and paid him a $1.5 million buyout.
and was invited to spring training
. Pérez had his contract purchased by the Nationals on March 20, 2008.
Perez got the Opening Day start for Washington on March 30, 2008. He gave up the first home run in the history of Nationals Park, to Chipper Jones
in the top of the 4th. He gave up one run and surrendered 4 hits over 5 innings and ended up with a no-decision. Ryan Zimmerman
hit a walk-off home run later that game to win the first game in the history of Nationals Park, 3-2. He also struck out the first batter and delivered the first pitch in the history of Nationals Park.
Pérez agreeed to a minor league contract with the Nationals prior to the season. However, he had second thoughts and did not report to spring training, instead wanting a major league deal. He was subsequently released.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. He played with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(-), the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(-), the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(2006-), and the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.
Personal
Pérez is a 1995 graduate of Damian David Ortiz High School in his homeland. He is currently single and has a son, Odalis, Jr. Pérez has participated in community baseball clinics for the Dodgers and the Manny Mota International Foundation and has also visited schools in Los Angeles area as part of the Dodger Jams program.Atlanta Braves
Pérez joined the Braves in September 1998, going 0-1. However, he won a game for the Braves in the 1998 postseason, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to earn a playoff win without ever having won a regular season game.On May 2, 1999, Pérez got his first regular-season victory pitching 5.2 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
and allowing two earned runs
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
with seven strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, as Atlanta rolled to a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
On January 15, 2002, he was traded by the Braves with Andrew Brown (minors) and Brian Jordan
Brian Jordan
Brian O'Neal Jordan is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and National Football League safety. In the NFL, he played for the Atlanta Falcons, while he played in the MLB for the St...
to the Dodgers for Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...
.
Los Angeles Dodgers
In a two-year period from 2002-, he won 27 games (15 in 2002, 12 in 2003), which was tied for the third most wins by a left-handedLeft-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, joining Tom Glavine
Tom Glavine
Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176...
behind Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
and Al Leiter
Al Leiter
Alois Terry "Al" Leiter is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He is now a studio analyst for MLB Network, and a color commentator for the YES Network.-Early career :Leiter attended Central Regional High School....
, and 10th most in the majors. Beside this, he was the first Dodger left-hander to register at least 12 wins in consecutive seasons since Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
accomplished the feat between (21) and (14). During the same period, Pérez also had the sixth-most strikeouts mark (296) among all majors lefties, ranking fourth in the National League behind Johnson, Randy Wolf
Randy Wolf
Randall Christopher Wolf is a left-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball. Randy's older brother Jim is a Major League umpire. Unlike his brother Jim and Houston Astros relief pitcher Ross Wolf, Randy is a boss...
and Leiter.
Also in those two seasons, Pérez allowed two earned runs or less in 33 of his 62 starts, being selected to the All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
game in 2002 — a season in which he pitched a pair of one-hitter games.
A career highlight for Pérez occurred on August 28, 2002, as he defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
with a score of 1-0, during which he pitched 8.0 scoreless innings AND slugged his first career home run for the only run of the game. With this victory, he became the first Major League pitcher to win a 1-0 game and hit the game-winning homer since the Dodgers’ Bob Welch accomplished the feat on June 17, 1983. This game also marked the beginning of closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Éric Gagné
Éric Gagné
Éric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
’s record-breaking streak, the first game of 84 consecutive saves.
Kansas City Royals
On July 25, 2006, Perez and two minor league pitchers (Blake Johnson and Julio Pimentel) were traded to the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in exchange for Elmer Dessens
Elmer Dessens
Elmer Dessens Jusaino [deh-SENZ] is a Mexican professional baseball player who is currently a free agent.-Personal life:...
. Cash considerations were also sent to the Royals in the deal.
On October 31, 2007, the Royals declined Perez's $9 million option and paid him a $1.5 million buyout.
Washington Nationals
On February 19, 2008, Pérez signed a minor league contract with the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
and was invited to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. Pérez had his contract purchased by the Nationals on March 20, 2008.
Perez got the Opening Day start for Washington on March 30, 2008. He gave up the first home run in the history of Nationals Park, to Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
in the top of the 4th. He gave up one run and surrendered 4 hits over 5 innings and ended up with a no-decision. Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Wallace Zimmerman is a Major League Baseball third baseman with the Washington Nationals. A 6-foot 3-inch player from the University of Virginia and Kellam High School, Zimmerman has been a member of the Nationals since his debut on September 1, 2005...
hit a walk-off home run later that game to win the first game in the history of Nationals Park, 3-2. He also struck out the first batter and delivered the first pitch in the history of Nationals Park.
Pérez agreeed to a minor league contract with the Nationals prior to the season. However, he had second thoughts and did not report to spring training, instead wanting a major league deal. He was subsequently released.