The average career of an MLB pitcher is actually not very long.
However, for every pitcher who flames out after a couple of seasons, or doesn’t get the call at all, there are a few warriors who grind it out for 20 years or more.
That’s the case of left-handed hurler Oliver Perez, who is currently 40 years old.
The southpaw, after pitching 3.2 innings with the Cleveland Indians in 2021, announced his future plans.
Oliver Perez Announces Plans To Retire After Playing 2022 Season In Mexican League https://t.co/merRAom67N pic.twitter.com/465Ou2ucie
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) February 22, 2022
He will play out the 2022 season in the Mexican League with Toros de Tijuana, before finally hanging up his cleats.
Unless something really unexpected happens, Perez will finish his major league career with a 4.34 ERA in 1,461.2 innings pitched.
He had a 73-93 record and 12.4 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
He led the league in games started in 2008, and in strikeouts per nine innings in 2004, with 11.0.
A Solid Career
One has the feeling he had the stuff to achieve better numbers over his 20-year MLB career, but a 4.34 ERA in over 1,000 innings at the highest level is not too shabby.
Perez will have the chance to say goodbye to baseball while pitching in his native Mexico.
He showed in recent seasons (2020 and 2021) that he may still have a bit left in the tank.
Since 2018, he has pitched exclusively out of Cleveland’s bullpen, with good results.
He had a 1.39 ERA in 2018, a 3.98 mark in 2019, and a 2.00 one in 2020.
He has been a reliever since 2012, when the Seattle Mariners permanently moved him to the pen.
Since breaking through with the San Diego Padres in 2002, Perez has pitched with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the New York Mets, the Mariners, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Houston Astros, the Washington Nationals, and the Indians.
He was solid, and he deserves an extended break with some quality time with family and loved ones.
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