Hernán Pérez is a Venezuelan shortstop born in Villa de Cura, Aragua, who made his MLB debut on June 9, 2012. Now 35, he’s still very much active in professional baseball — and putting up numbers that are hard to ignore. Playing for Caribes de Anzoátegui in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP), Pérez has found a second wind that his big-league résumé never quite promised.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Hernán Pérez
- Position: Shortstop
- Team: Caribes de Anzoátegui (LVBP)
- Number: 21
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 6’0″ / 214 lbs
- Born: March 26, 1991 — Villa de Cura, Aragua, Venezuela 🇻🇪
- MLB Debut: June 9, 2012
Background
Pérez grew up in Villa de Cura, a region with deep baseball roots in the heart of Venezuela. He developed as a right-handed shortstop through the minor-league system before earning his shot in the majors. His MLB debut came on June 9, 2012, launching a career that would take him through several organizations over the following decade.
MLB Career
Pérez suited up for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, and Washington Nationals during his time in the big leagues. His best MLB season came in 2019 with Milwaukee: a .228 AVG, 8 home runs, 18 RBI, 29 runs scored, and a .641 OPS. He also swiped 5 bags that year.
The years that followed were rougher. With the Cubs in 2020 he hit just .167 with a .334 OPS, and his 2021 stint in Washington produced a .053 AVG and a .196 OPS. His MLB window had clearly closed — but Pérez wasn’t done playing ball.
MLB Stats at a Glance
- 2019 — Milwaukee Brewers: .228 AVG, 8 HR, 18 RBI, 29 R, .641 OPS, 5 SB
- 2020 — Chicago Cubs: .167 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, .334 OPS
- 2021 — Washington Nationals: .053 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, .196 OPS
Winter Ball Resurgence
Rather than walk away from the game, Pérez returned home to Venezuela — and the LVBP has brought out the best in him. In the 2025-26 season with Caribes de Anzoátegui, he appeared in 56 games and hit .313 with 9 home runs, 52 RBI, 71 hits, and an .863 OPS. That’s the kind of production that makes a roster spot easy to justify.
The current 2026-27 campaign has been even more electric in a small sample: through just 9 games, Pérez is slashing .316/…/… with 4 home runs and a 1.118 OPS. The tank is far from empty.
LVBP Stats
- 2026-27 — Caribes de Anzoátegui: 9 G, .316 AVG, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 1.118 OPS, 12 H
- 2025-26 — Caribes de Anzoátegui: 56 G, .313 AVG, 9 HR, 52 RBI, .863 OPS, 71 H
- 2024-25 — Cardenales de Lara: 19 G, .219 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .673 OPS, 14 H
- 2023-24 — Cardenales de Lara: 42 G, .284 AVG, 4 HR, 28 RBI, .820 OPS, 42 H
Still Got It
At 35, Hernán Pérez is a reminder that a tough stretch in the majors doesn’t have to be the final chapter. His defensive experience at shortstop and his rediscovered bat have made him one of the more compelling stories in Venezuelan winter ball. He chose to come back home and compete — and the numbers say that was the right call.
