Eduardo Perez

Current Position: ESPN Baseball Analyst
Age: 9/11/1969 (50)
Managerial Experience: Leones de Ponce (2008-2009) – Puerto Rico Baseball League, Columbia (2013 World Baseball Classic)

Eduardo Perez is the latest to throw his hat into the ring to be the next manager of the New York Mets. Eduardo is the son of Hall of Fame infielder Tony Perez, who was enshrined in Cooperstown in 2000. Eduardo was a journeyman infielder/outfielder during his time in the Major Leagues, which lasted 13 seasons and saw him in six different uniforms.

Perez joined ESPN as an analyst in 2006 for post-season coverage, and then worked on Baseball Tonight through the 2011 season. While working on Baseball Tonight, Perez also worked on “Beisbol Esta Noche,” the Spanish version of Baseball Tonight. Perez is bilingual, which is seen as a big plus by front offices.

During his tenure at ESPN, Perez managed the Leones de Ponce of the Puerto Rico Baseball League, and lead them to a league title in 2008. A few years later, Perez served as the manager of the Columbian National team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In the winter of 2014-15, he managed the Santurce Crabbers of the Puerto Rican Winter League, and qualified for the Caribbean World Series.

As for his Major League coaching career, it began back in 2011 when the Marlins brought him in as their hitting coach. He remained the hitting coach until all of Ozzie Guillen‘s staff was let go after a disappointing run in 2011 and 2012. He then served as the bench coach for Bo Porter in 2013, and was named the Astros’ first base coach for the 2014 season. Of note, also on the 2013 staff is current Mets’ Triple-A manager Tony DeFrancesco.

Perez resigned from the position in January of that year to spend more time with his family. He ended up just serving one year on Houston’s staff. He then returned to ESPN as an analyst. Perez also served as a special adviser to the Cleveland Indians before returning to the dugout in 2011.

In his most recent stint at ESPN, Perez has been working playoff telecasts with Mike Petriello and Jason Benetti. These telecasts are far more analytically driven than a normal broadcast, and are commonly referred to on social media as ESPN’s “nerdcast.” Perez’s involvement in these telecasts, shows his understanding of the metrics, the direction baseball is heading in, and a willingness to immerse himself in analytics.

What They Say

Former Astro Brandon Barnes – “He helps us with the mental side of baseball. He helps us with things like picking up things from the other team, or reading pitchers while trying to get a jump off first base. It’s amazing, the knowledge that he has, and a real help to us to learn the game from someone like him, who played for so long.”

Former Marlins’ Manager Ozzie Guillen: “”It’s funny how this game works. Nobody gives Eduardo credit when we were doing good. Now they’re going to [expletive] on him because we’re not hitting? That’s a bunch of [expletive]. No, blame the players. They were good two weeks ago [with the] same hitting coach.”

“The only reason they’re going to get fired is if I see them not do what they’re supposed to do. This guy [Perez] has been working hard every day. He makes suggestions, tells [players] what he thinks. When the game starts, he cannot perform for them.”

The Recommendation 

My initial reaction upon hearing the news that Eduardo Perez was being considered for the Mets’ managerial job was confusion. Perez, at first, seemed like the Mets’ Aaron Boone option: a broadcaster from ESPN that grew up and spent their life in baseball, but didn’t really seem like a manager.

Looking deeper into it, Perez brings many qualities to the table that are enticing in a managerial candidate. First, he is bilingual. This is very important on a team with a large hispanic fan base, several hispanic players, and a community with a large hispanic population.

Secondly, Perez is a baseball lifer. While this does not mean much in terms of a manager specifically, it does help to have around. Perez is the son of a Hall of Famer, played 13 seasons in the pros, and then has worked in the industry ever since. Not to mention, he has worked along side the likes of: Buck Schowalter, Terry Francona, Dusty Baker, Alex Cora, Aaron Boone, Bobby Valentine, Larry Bowa, all of whom are former managers. For Perez’s entire life, he has been surrounded by a wealth of knowledge.

Perez’s coaching experience is not extensive, but it exists. His work under Ozzie Guillen and Bo Porter is the entirety of his Major League experience, lasting only two seasons. If managerial experience is a must-have on your check list, then look away.

All things considered, Perez is one of the more interesting candidates for the Mets. A younger, bilingual, forward thinking candidate who has been surrounded by some of the best minds in baseball for the entirety of his life. Sure, he has no Major League managerial experience, but neither did Rocco Baldelli, Alex Cora, Dave Roberts, and Aaron Boone when they took their respective jobs, and they all excelled in their first seasons. Perez should receive serious consideration from the Mets, and make the next round of interviews, should there be one.