Thursday, March 28

Rangers’ pitcher Martín Pérez is team’s lone All-Star selection


ARLINGTON – This is how Martín Pérez rolls in 2022:

Starts a game Saturday, isn’t his best, gets the benefit of some run support, rallies to get through six innings in an eventual Rangers win, goes home and gets engaged and returns the next day to find out he’s an All-Star.

Call it the reward of finally finding yourself.

“Everything is a process,” Pérez said after the Rangers’ bid to sweep of Minnesota came up short in a 6-5 loss. “It takes years sometimes. It doesn’t happen quickly. You first have to be honest with yourself. You have to recognize who you are before you can be what you want to be.”

About the game: Another one run-loss. Need more be said? OK, Dane Dunning walked or hit four consecutive batters in the third inning and didn’t make it out. Though the Rangers did rally to eventually tie it, the Twins scored their final run on a throwing error by pitcher Matt Bush. These are the kinds of things that happen for teams struggling to get to .500.

Pérez is the only Rangers’ All-Star, added by the commissioner’s office after fan voting and – surprisingly – player voting didn’t produce a representative. Both Perez and catcher Jonah Heim, who have gone from backup to leading AL catchers in homers, were serving, based on their performances.

Pérez’s season this year is all about finding himself. After three years with other clubs and shuffling between the rotation and the bullpen, he wanted to be back with the Rangers. He’s referred to it as “home” more than once. And he’s treated the organization as one would return home from exile.

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He’s cherished everything about it and that’s shown up in both his performance and in his presence.

Perez (7-2) is among the top 10 in the AL in WAR (2.4), innings pitched (106) and ERA (2.72). He’s pitched at least six innings in 14 of his 17 starts. And the Rangers have won 12 of his last 13 outings on him. What he’s meant to the Rangers, fighting to get back to .500 after five consecutive losing seasons, goes beyond the performance.

“He’s done what All-Stars do,” manager Chris Woodward said. “I don’t know where we’d be without him. The stuff he’s done beyond what he’s done on the mound has been tremendous. The conversations he’s had with guys about how to pitch, how to behave, all of those things have been valuable. He’s got such valuable nuggets for everybody on the roster.”

“I’ve been through a lot in my personal life,” Perez said. “I want to be better every day. A better pitcher, a better person, a better son, a better dad, a better teammate. I just want to be better. It’s about trying to keep it simple.”

Pérez has been open about his disappointment after the Rangers decided not to pick up an option in his contract following 2018. He’s been open about a divorce the following year and his desire to be closer with his children. His children of him were with him Saturday when he proposed to his girlfriend Mari Guevara.

After the celebration, he returned to the ballpark Sunday to find out he’d made his first All-Star team a little over 10 years after he made his big-league debut. After being informed in front of the team, he thanked his teammates for helping him reach the All-Star Game. Then, when it was announced to fans late in Sunday’s game, he gave an enthusiastic fist pump.

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“This year, he’s really tapped into who he is,” said DH Mitch Garver, who was Perez’s teammate in Minnesota in 2019. “He’s just really matured into the pitcher he wants to be. He’s been a great presence. He’s good for our other pitchers.”

Heim lost out, however, to former teammate Jose Trevino. Trevino, in more of a split role with Kyle Higashioka, has become the toast of New York after a handful of clutch hits, including two walkoffs. The Rangers traded Trevino to the Yankees in spring training after they’d made their decision that Heim would be the primary backup to Mitch Garver. Then, after Garver got hurt, Heim took over the regular duties.

Trevino will be the backup to All-Star starter Alejandro Kirk of Toronto. MLB does not release results of player voting past those who are selected.

“I’m happy for Jose,” said Heim. “We developed a great connection last year. … Everybody gets a little disappointed when told they didn’t get what you want. I guess I’ll have to go out next year and have a better year.”

He’s already done that once. Last year, splitting time with Trevino, he was a .196 hitter with a .597 OPS and 10 homers. This year, playing more regularly, which doesn’t necessarily mean better production since catching is so demanding: .265 with a .790 OPS and 12 homers. He’s second in the league in pitch framing stats. Uncle Trevino.

“I’m not going to pit one against the other,” Woodward said. “I’m really happy for José. But the numbers speak on Jonah’s behalf. You can put him up there with anyone. He’s been a complete package. I’m really proud. I feel like he got robbed a little.”

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Alas, this weekend belonged to Perez.

Nobody could – or would – argue that.

Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant

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Considering his Rangers history, Martín Pérez’s calm performance speaks volumes

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