Skip to content

Astros sign top Cuban pitching prospect Cionel Perez

Jesse Johnson / USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Astros dipped into the international free-agent pool Friday, agreeing to a minor-league deal with Cuban left-hander Cionel Perez.

"We are very excited to bring Cionel into the Houston Astros organization, after scouting him for a number of years," Astros director of international scouting Oz Ocampo said in a statement.

"He is a very talented, young lefty with the baseball ability and fortitude to have a very successful Major League career. At his best, he features a 90-96 mph fastball with two power breaking balls and the makings of an average changeup."

The team previously had a deal in place with Perez last month, but was forced to rework it over a medical issue. His current contract is believed to be worth $2 million, sources told Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle.

Perez was the fourth-ranked international prospect, according to MLB pipeline. He pitched two seasons for Matanzas of the Cuban Serie Nacional from 2013-14. The now-20-year-old posted a 2.20 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 100 strikeouts over 139 innings as a starter.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox