"Juanma" Pérez: The Explosion of Talent

Juan Manuel Pérez is one of the young players who has caused a sensation in the current baseball season at just 21 years old. Recently, we highlighted in these pages his versatility and dynamic sense for deciphering the "secrets" within the baseball diamond.

The season for this Pinar del Río native has been remarkably complete, consistent, and decisive. So much so that last Monday, the Vegueros player earned the Most Valuable Player of the Week award after dominating Granma’s pitching across five games. In that particular series, he launched no less than four home runs and drove in 11 teammates.

But the Alazanes’ pitchers have not been the only victims of "Juanma" Pérez. From the last U-23 tournament to the present day in the major series, the young man has consistently been "burning" the ball with authority. He is even taking his power-hitting seriously; in addition to his excellent batting eye, he now adds home run production to his skills.

This Thursday, he blasted his seventh home run of the season against Avila’s pitching, meaning he has hit a total of five homers in his last eight games. This season will undoubtedly establish him as a Cuban baseball talent to watch very closely.

His current numbers are too impressive to ignore. Consider this: out of 161 times at bat, 53 have resulted in hits, for a batting average of .329. His OPS is .928, and he has driven in 35 runs.

To that, we must add an aspect not commonly seen in Cuban baseball: the skill to outmaneuver the pitcher-catcher duo from another base—stealing bases. The young man has attempted 12 steals and succeeded in nine without issue.

The Vegueros player possesses all the qualities to excel brilliantly as the leadoff hitter in the Vegueros lineup, and also to be classified as a well-rounded player. We say this not as mere praise, but because we have seen him defend both second and third base with sure hands and agility, and even make excellent catches in the outfield during the same game.

This young talent has a world ahead of him, along with aspects of his game to refine, but he is undoubtedly a talent who has exploded onto the scene this Series and one who will certainly be closely watched from here on out.