Former SF Giants outfielder and 2014 World Series winning still playing pro ball

A former SF Giants outfielder and 2014 World Series winner is still playing pro ball. 2014 was not that long ago, but it feels like ages since Juan Pérez's name has been mentioned but his career is ongoing.

Former SF Giants outfielder and 2014 World Series winning still playing pro ball

It has been so long since Pérez's name has been mentioned, there is literally one article on him in the entire Around the Foghorn database and that was in 2015. That is nearly 8,500 articles in total and only one has mentioned him!

Anyways, the right-handed bat is still pursuing a career in baseball. Giants fans may remember for making a few really nice plays in center field in 2014 while the Giants were scrambling for outfielders. They were so thin on outfield depth that Travis Ishikawa was playing left field in the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals with minimal prior experience!

Pérez was originally drafted by the Giants in the 13th round of the 2008 draft out of Western Oklahoma State College. The outfielder generally posted strong numbers in the minors, slashing .275/.316/.428 while eclipsing double-digit homers in three of his first five pro seasons.

In addition to this, Pérez flashed a stellar glove while being able to handle all three outfield positions. He even had experience at second base. The Giants added him to the 40-man roster after the 2012 season and he debuted in 2013. He played sparingly over the next three seasons, registering a .224/.267/.316 (66 OPS+) with two home runs, 13 RBI, and 26 runs in 246 plate appearances.

He did tally three hits in 12 at-bats with three RBI in the 2014 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, so he did something that very few players can say they did. Pérez became a free agent after 2015 and bounced around with the Chicago Cubs (2015) and the Detroit Tigers (2016). Since then, he has played unaffiliated ball, primarily with Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.

The 36-year-old played for the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League in 2022. Yet another reminder that minor league baseball has the best team names in sports. Pérez played on the same team as veteran major leaguers like Alberto Callaspo and Engel Beltre. He posted a solid .846 OPS in 179 plate appearances.

Not only that, but Pérez is playing winter ball as well. He has recorded three hitless at-bats with Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League. He is teammates with former All-Stars like Melky Cabera and Yoenis Céspedes.

It has been nearly a decade since Pérez has taken his last at-bat against major league pitching, but it is cool that he is still going out there and competing.