No. 05: Red Sox starting pitching prospect Luis Perales
Luis Perales struggled in his first few starts of the 2023 season. However, once things got rolling, he put on a show.
The right-handed pitcher finished with a 3.91 ERA, .230 BAA, and 1.42 WHIP between Single-A and High-A. He struck out 115 batters compared to 50 walks in 89 2/3 innings.
Perales had 15 walks compared to 14 strikeouts through his first five outings (14 2/3 innings) of the season. He cleaned up considerably after that.
Perales mainly uses three pitches.
A fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can flirt with 100 MPH. He can elevate it to blow by hitters, and it looks dominant. Control got better as the year went on. It should be a pitch he can lean on.
Then there's a slurve that can be absolutely devastating. Perales gets a sweeping break on the pitch, and it can snap pretty hard. He has a strong command of the pitch. Sitting around 80 MPH, it can leave hitters flailing.
Finally, he has a changeup. I saw more of this pitch this year compared to last season. It sits in the mid-80s with a good late drop. Last year, I said it could be a great third pitch as he grows. The changeup definitely took the steps in the right direction to make this a reality.
Perales will turn 21 on April 14, 2024. Despite his young age, he looks advanced on the mound. There are a few intriguing pitching prospects in the Red Sox system, but Perales has the highest ceiling.
It's difficult to project pitchers in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Luis Perales has the makeup of a potential ace, though.
Fastball: 70
Slurve: 70
Changeup: 55
Control: 50
Overall: 60