From Going Hitless in his First 14 at-bats to going 5-for-his-last 8, Colton Perez has Become a Major Threat

(Photo by Alyssa Garcia)

By: Dillon Zamperin

WENATCHEE, WA — Before June 6, Colton Perez couldn’t buy a hit. When he wasn’t getting walked or hit by a pitch, he was striking out and grounding out in every other plate appearance.

It took until the seventh inning of Saturday’s game for something to change, and the change came in a huge way. With runners on first and third and just one out, the Springfield Drifters were down by four runs and in desperate need of some offense to remain in the game.

Up stepped Perez, who was 0-for-3 on the night and had already grounded into a double play in his first at-bat. Before stepping into the box, the junior utility man loosely swung his bat from side to side for 10 seconds before digging into the box.

On the first pitch, the 6-foot-5 lefty ambushed a fastball on the outer third of the plate to dead center that cleared the 13-foot fence, snapping Perez’s 0-for-14 streak at the plate and giving him his first hit as a Drifter. The home run also cut the deficit down to just one run and gave Springfield a chance to win, which it did in extra innings.

“Huge for him, huge for us. Watching him in the cage today, working on what he was working on, keeping his hands above the ball and doing things, and it's exactly what happened,” Head Coach Jeff Lyle said after Saturday’s game. “Seeing his eyes light up [and] the payoff, the results and doing the process right was great.”

Perez came to the plate one more time in Saturday’s game, in a crucial situation with Springfield still down one run in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Perez battled at the plate and, after seven pitches, took a well-earned walk. He was pinch-run for by Kahaku Harrison, who ultimately ended up scoring the game-tying run with two strikes and two outs on a single by Jaycob Villalpando.

But once again, it was Perez who ignited the offense. 

“It was a great feeling, great crowd. It was a great atmosphere, and we were all going for one another last night,” Perez said. “It’s just good to get one on the board and keep it going.”

In Sunday’s game, Perez went 4-for-5, reaching base every time he came to the plate. He brought in five of the Drifters’ 11 runs in the slugfest, on one double and three singles, continuing his tear at the plate.

“His work, he’s put in pregame, his mindset right now to get better at the plate and do all the things that he’s doing in practice, taking it to the game and not trying to do too much,” Lyle said after. “I think he’s just put a little bit of pressure on himself early to be the big guy, and he’s just taking smooth, controlled swings.”

Just when you think he was done, Perez showed more of his talents, but this time, on the mound. During Tuesday’s game against the Wenatchee AppleSox, Perez started the game, pitching four innings and giving up just one run while striking out two batters on an efficient 61 pitches.

The two-way threat has been indispensable on the mound and plate all year, going back to his sophomore season with Vanguard, which started in January. With the Lions, Perez had 29 hits and blasted six home runs while also having a 3.00 ERA on the bump across nine innings.

Perez now lands in the transfer portal, as this summer will be crucial for him to showcase his talents to potential teams that might pursue him.

“I just want to get to a high-level program and just compete at the next level. Do whatever it takes to win again,” Perez said.

As Perez not only looks to become a mainstay in the Drifters lineup but also for his junior season in college, the left-hander will look to make this season with Springfield the most successful it can be at the plate and on the mound.

“This game brings a lot of joy to me,” Perez said.