Before Hunter Dobbins, Payton Tolle and Connelly Early headlined the Boston Red Sox's group of homegrown pitchers, there was Luis Perales.
The Red Sox signed Perales as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2019. The 22-year-old righty was formerly Boston's top pitching prospect, and he even starred alongside Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel on top 100 prospect lists around baseball. On Baseball America's list, he peaked at No. 57.
Perales fell off those lists, though, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in late June 2024. He made his return to action with Double-A Portland on September 13, and he posted a scoreless inning with one walk. On September 17, Perales will make his Triple-A debut out of the bullpen.
Triple-A is the only minor league level still playing this late in the year. Perales has posted just 8.1 career innings in Double-A, but reps are key to getting the righty back on his former top-100 track. He's scheduled to pitch twice with the WooSox, and he could appear again on Saturday, the second-to-last day of the minor league regular season (subscription required). WooSox manager Chad Tracy told Katie Morrison-O'Day of MassLive that each of his appearances will be one inning. Perales will play in the Arizona Fall League when the Triple-A slate concludes.
Former top Red Sox pitching prospect Luis Perales to make Triple-A debut out of the bullpen on September 17
Despite his lack of experience in Triple-A, Perales could be ready for his appearances. He clocked a 2.94 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 12 walks over 33.2 innings between High-A and Double-A last season, and he's already touched 100 miles per hour with his fastball since his return from UCL surgery.
“I saw him in spring training last year, that’s the only look I got at him...what I saw in that inning or two of work in a live BP in spring training was pretty, pretty sensational and it left an impression on me for sure,” Tracy said of the young pitcher.
Tim Healey of The Boston Globe asked if Perales could be an option out of Boston's bullpen late this season, which his source in the organization called a "stretch" (subscription required). Still, the Red Sox didn't rule out calling him up, which shows just how desperate they are for pitching as the postseason looms.
Now that he's recovered from surgery, Perales should be back on Red Sox fans' radar. Boston could have yet another homegrown pitching prospect in the big leagues soon.