Martín Pérez Jiménez Bio
Martín Pérez Jiménez (born April 4, 1991) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher and a free agent. A left-handed starter who began his Major League Baseball career in 2012, Pérez has played for multiple MLB clubs and earned All-Star recognition in 2022 as well as a World Series title in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Martín Pérez Jiménez was born in 1991 and grew up in Venezuela, where he developed as a left-handed pitcher before signing professionally as an international free agent. He entered professional baseball as a young prospect in the Rangers organization and progressed through the club’s minor league system prior to reaching the major leagues.
Signed by the Texas Rangers in 2007 as an undrafted international free agent, Pérez attracted attention early for his pitch movement and command rather than pure velocity. He advanced through Rookie-level and higher minor league stops, earning prospect recognition before his big-league debut.
Path to Baseball
Pérez rose through the Texas Rangers farm system and was considered a top prospect heading into the 2010 season. His development focused on control, a sharp curveball and a changeup to complement a four-seam fastball, traits that defined his path to the majors. The Rangers added him to their roster plans as he moved from short-season assignments to higher levels where he logged extended starts and pitched in key minor league roles.
That progression led to a major league opportunity in 2012 when the Rangers called Pérez to the active roster. His early professional years combined steady innings, refinement of secondary pitches and enough success at each level to earn a rotation spot in the major leagues.
Martín Pérez Career
Early Career (2012–2018)
Martín Pérez made his first major league appearance in June 2012 and recorded his first big-league start later that month, earning a win in a start against the Oakland Athletics on June 30, 2012. Over the 2012 and subsequent seasons with the Texas Rangers, he established himself as a dependable left-handed starter who could provide length in the rotation.
During his initial stint with Texas, Pérez experienced highs such as pitching complete games and lows that included arm injuries. In 2013 he threw his first complete game and in 2014 he recorded consecutive shutouts before undergoing Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for an extended period. The Rangers signed Pérez to a multi-year contract extension in November 2013 that kept him under club control as he continued to develop.
Minnesota Twins Breakthrough (2019)
After his original run with Texas, Pérez signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins for the 2019 season. He competed for rotation innings across 2019 and made a significant number of starts, returning innings and providing veteran left-handed presence in the Twins’ staff. His control and experience were defining features of that season.
Boston Red Sox Tenure (2020–2021)
Martín Pérez signed with the Boston Red Sox for the 2020 season and remained with the organization through 2021. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign he made a series of starts for Boston, and the club initially declined a team option after the season before re-signing him for 2021. Across parts of two seasons with Boston, Pérez made starts and relief appearances while the team used his veteran experience to manage rotation depth.
Texas Rangers Return (2022–2023)
Pérez returned to the Texas Rangers in 2022 on a one-year contract and enjoyed a standout season that led to his selection as an American League All-Star. That year he carried a strong workload as a member of the rotation and produced some of the best baseball of his career, including a near-perfect start in which he carried a perfect-game bid into the seventh inning against Houston on May 29, 2022.
Following his All-Star season, Pérez accepted a qualifying offer to return to the Rangers for 2023. He was part of the Rangers’ pitching mix during the club’s run to the postseason and earned a World Series championship ring when the Texas Rangers won the 2023 World Series, marking the first championship of his major league career.
Later Career (2024–2025)
In January 2024, Martín Pérez signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and made starts for Pittsburgh during the 2024 season before being traded midseason to the San Diego Padres. With the Padres he contributed several starts during the second half of 2024, after which he reached free-agent status and later signed with the Chicago White Sox for the 2025 season.
The 2025 season with the Chicago White Sox was interrupted by injury, including placement on the injured list with elbow inflammation and a subsequent flexor strain that limited his availability. He returned to action in August 2025 and finished the season with the White Sox before declining a club option and entering free agency.
Driving Style and Strengths
Though not a power pitcher, Pérez is known for his command, pitch movement and ability to mix a four-seam fastball with a sharp curveball and a changeup. His profile emphasizes control, inducing contact and generating weakly hit balls rather than relying on high strikeout totals. As a veteran starter he has often been relied upon to eat innings and stabilize a rotation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Pérez’s career include his major league debut and first start with the Texas Rangers in June 2012, his first complete game in August 2013, undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2014 and his American League All-Star selection in 2022. The crowning team achievement came when he won the World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023.
Martín Pérez Career Wins
Martín Pérez has accumulated victories across multiple Major League Baseball teams during a career that began with his debut in 2012. He recorded his first major league win in a start on June 30, 2012, and later added wins and key starts while representing Minnesota, Boston, Texas, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Chicago at various points in his career.
MLB Highlights
Pérez’s most notable single-season campaign came in 2022 with the Texas Rangers when he earned All-Star honors and compiled one of the strongest statistical seasons of his career. His contributions that season included deep starts, a low earned-run mark relative to his earlier career norms and durability that kept him in the rotation for the majority of the year.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Beyond club play, Pérez has represented Venezuela internationally in the World Baseball Classic on multiple occasions. He started games for Venezuela in the 2017 and 2023 tournaments, adding international starts to his professional resume.
Martín Pérez Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Martín Pérez is Venezuelan by nationality and began his professional journey from that country’s baseball system. Public records provided do not include details on his parents or broader family background beyond his national origin and baseball lineage as an international signee who progressed to the major leagues.
Personal Life
Publicly available, verified information on Pérez’s personal life is limited. His residence is not listed in the verified facts provided and there are no confirmed public details regarding spouse or children in the verified sources for this profile.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025 Pérez signed with the Chicago White Sox and faced an injury-marred season that limited his innings. He began the year on the injured list with elbow inflammation and a flexor strain that sidelined him for the majority of the campaign; he returned late in the season and made a number of starts before a shoulder issue ended his season. He completed the year and then declined the club option, entering free agency.
Looking ahead from the 2025 season, Pérez’s experience, left-handed presence and track record as a veteran starter make him a candidate for teams seeking rotation depth or a swing role between starting and long-relief innings. His history of recovering from injury and returning to start at the major league level is a recurrent theme in his professional narrative.