Oneli Pérez

Oneli M. Perez Garcia

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6'2", Weight 163 lbs

• Born May 26, 1983 in Bonao, Dominican Republic

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Oneli Perez has pitched in the US, Dominican Republic and South Korea.

Perez was originally signed by the San Diego Padres and scout Ronquito Garcia in 2001 as a position player. He played for the DSL Padres in 2001-2003, becoming a pitcher in 2003, going 3-0 with 3 saves and a 1.77 ERA. He walked only 7 in 40 2/3 IP, showing good control for a 20-year-old. He was released and signed with the Chicago White Sox organization and played with the DSL White Sox in 2004, he was 7-5 with 5 saves and a 2.08 ERA.

Perez came to the US with the Kannapolis Intimidators in 2005. He earned his first win of the season on May 11th and went 4-2 with a 3.71 ERA in 36 games, mostly out of the pen. He began the next year back at Kannapolis and was 3-1 with a 0.99 ERA and 8 saves before being promoted. He split the rest of the season between the Winston-Salem Warthogs, where he was 1-0 with a 0.72 ERA, and the Birmingham Barons, where he went 0-1 with a 0.55 ERA and 1 save. He spent the 2007 as the Barons closer and was 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA and 16 saves. He tied Kanekoa Texeira for the White Sox minor leaguer lead in saves and was five behind Southern League leader Dale Thayer.

Perez was 0-1 with a 8.10 ERA for the Tigres del Licey in the 2008 Caribbean Series. He took the team's only loss, coming against the Yaquis de Obregón, as they won the Series. Perez came in against the Yaquis in the 10th inning, replacing the ineffective Carlos Marmol. He was no better, allowing an Alfredo Amezaga single, throwing a wild pitch, walking Jorge Padilla and surrendering a 3-run homer to Roberto Saucedo. That summer, he struggled. With the Charlotte Knights, he went 0-1 with a 9.53 ERA and 2.18 WHIP. Chicago waived him and he was picked up by the Cleveland Indians. Things did not work out any better with the Buffalo Bisons (20 H, 10 R, 8 BB in 12 2/3 IP). He was waived once more, and this time the New York Yankees claimed it. He was 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 17 games for the Trenton Thunder, with 42 whiffs to 21 hits in 31 innings marking a good end note to the year. Perez had struck out 76 in 60 2/3 IP for the year but had a composite 5.93 ERA.

Oneli won the finale of the 2009 Caribbean Series for Licey, beating the Mazatlan Deer in an otherwise disappointing tourney for the Dominican entry (2-4). For the Series, he fanned five in four shutout innings for the Tigres. Perez was 4-4 with a save and a 2.82 ERA for the 2009 Newark Bears and was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals. Assigned to the Memphis Redbirds, he was 4-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 games (10 starts) for the remainder of the year. He was with Memphis for 2010 as well, but fared much worse in his first full AAA season - 2-7, 5.09. He fanned 96 in 99 innings but walked 52.

Perez signed with the Hanwha Eagles for 2011. He debuted on April 3, tossing 1 2/3 innings in a save against the Lotte Giants. He struck out three, walked two and allowed no hits or runs.