Rangers Ace Martin Perez Reveals WBC Plan

Martin Perez will likely appear in an exhibition game before starting his first game for Team Venezuela this weekend.

Martín Pérez left Texas Rangers Spring Training on Sunday to head to Miami to play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

After his start on Saturday, he laid out what the plan was for the next several days.

Perez will throw a side session on Monday in Miami, where the Venezuelan national team is holding its camp and where pool play games are located.

Pool D games — Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Israel — start on Saturday and will be played at LoanDepot Park, the home of the Miami Marlins.

After his side session on Monday, Pérez is scheduled to pitch in an exhibition game on Wednesday against the Houston Astros in West Palm Beach.

He said he would get three days off after that before he pitched again, which would make likely make him the starter in Venezuela’s game on Sunday against Puerto Rico. But that is all subject to change when the team assembles in Miami.

The key word is start, Pérez said.

“I told them if I’m gonna be there I’m going to start because I have to get ready for the season,” Pérez said. “They told me that was OK.”

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is not concerned about his workload, as Pérez worked two three-inning games so far this spring and has thrown about 55 pitches in each. Plus, WBC pitchers are limited to 65 pitches in an appearance.

Pérez is part of a star-studded Venezuelan team that includes Houston Astros infielder José Altuve, reigning American League batting champion Luis Arráez, and Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr., who helped that franchise to the 2021 World Series title.

Pérez will be part of a 14-player pitching staff for Venezuela.

Last season Pérez went 12-8 with a 2.89 ERA in 32 starts. He earned his first All-Star Game appearance and had one of the best months of May in Rangers and baseball history, which ultimately led to American League Pitcher of the Month honors.

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