2021 Rookie Level Seasons (GCL and DSL)

HELIUM WATCH

Luis Perales, RHP, Red Sox

Two years ago, the Red Sox signed Perales out of Venezuela when he was 16 on July 2. He was a small signing—under $100,000—but he had a loose, easy delivery, good arm action and fast arm speed with a fastball that touched 90 mph by the time he signed. Perales has yet to pitch in an official game, but he has been on an upward trajectory since then. After signing in 2019, he pitched in the Tricky League (an unofficial league for July 2 signings) and increased his fastball to 95 mph, showing a mid-70s curveball with tight spin as well and ranking as Baseball America’s No. 27 international signing in the 2019 class. Perales spent 2020 stuck at home, but last week in the Dominican Republic, Perales came out touching 98 mph. He turned 18 in April, the age equivalent of a high school senior eligible for the draft this year had he been born in the United States. Of course, we still need to see how Perales does when the real games start this year, but the arrows continue to point in the right direction.