The consistency of Hernan Perez

[reillymcshane]

No matter what you think of Hernan Perez, his consistency over the last three years is pretty amazing.

 

2016: .272 BA, .302 OBP, .428 SLG, .730 OPS

2017: .259 BA, .289 OBP, .414 SLG, .703 OPS

2018: .261 BA, .298 OBP, .423 SLG, .721 OPS

 

While that's nothing special, his ability to play all over the field is nice. He's a good baserunner and a solid defender. He's not going to get 400+ ABs like he has gotten the past two seasons, but that's a good thing. He just doesn't get on base enough to justify playing full time. But he has carved a niche as a decent utility player.

 

At age 27, Perez could still improve, but I'm guessing he is what he is.

[istanbultaye]

Hernan is definitely a nice bench piece. Solid D pretty much anywhere you put him (maaaaybe not CF), and enough of a bat that spot starts a couple times a week and pinch hitting isn't going to kill the offense. If his arby raises don't go completely nuts, it will be nice having him there for 2 more years.

[xisxisxis]

2016: .272 BA, .302 OBP, .428 SLG, .730 OPS

2017: .259 BA, .289 OBP, .414 SLG, .703 OPS

2018: .261 BA, .298 OBP, .423 SLG, .721 OPS

His PA for those 3 years:

 

2016 430

2017 458

2018 350 (est based on current)

 

While there's been plenty of complaining in the IGT about him getting too many starts, he's actually on pace to have his fewest PA while a Brewer... Also, based on the numbers, he doesn't require a lot of starts to stay sharp as he's hitting better this season than any previous (OPS is down league-wide so .721 in 2018 >= .730 in 2016) and his worst year he had the most PA...

 

He's fine in a reserve role as he couldn't take a walk to save his life and the last thing the Brewers need is more PA for a .300 OBP guy... defense and versatility make him a great 10th man...

[igor67]

Worth noting that Baseball prospectus had a story up today that would suggest utility players are actually undervalued because we have systematically over estimated how hard it is to learn any new position regardless of position on the defensive spectrum.

[Outlander]

It is interesting how his final number always seem to be around the same but because of his low on base there tends to be brutal stretches along the way. His first month of the year was painful to watch.

[MrTPlush]

Worth noting that Baseball prospectus had a story up today that would suggest utility players are actually undervalued because we have systematically over estimated how hard it is to learn any new position regardless of position on the defensive spectrum.

 

Hernan Perez is especially impressive because he can play average defense no matter where he plays. Most of the time with a utility guy there is somewhere they can play...but really shouldn't. Even at SS Hernan Perez holds his own. In half a seasons worth of playing time he only has TWO errors, neither of which were on the left side of the infield!

 

When he can float a 90 OPS+ he is pretty nice to have around. Right now he has been worth 1.1 WAR which in a half season worth of work is not bad at all on the bench. The consistency in his game the last three years is why he has a spot on our bench and likely will next year too. It can be really hard to find serviceable bench guys that you know you can depend on.

 

I think Perez tends to have an OPS north of .800 against lefties. Which comes in handy when Travis Shaw is, well, a lefty bat.

[Thurston Fluff]

I haven't really compared him to other utility guys but I think ones who have a career OPS north of .700 and can play at least league average defense at almost any position is fairly rare. Dude is carving out a nice career for himself.

[JohnBriggs12]

Stats don't show it but Perez' might have the highest baseball IQ on the team. He would be an adequate regular as a middle infielder but be less valuable overall than he is as a utility player.

[istanbultaye]

I feel like the last guy the Brewers had who was so successful in a "play him anywhere" role was Bill Hall. Obviously, Bill had a couple monster seasons, that Perez probably doesn't have in him, but since the defensive edge swings to Perez, for a more true bench role, Perez' consistent averageness, is pretty nice.

[LouisEly]

Worth noting that Baseball prospectus had a story up today that would suggest utility players are actually undervalued because we have systematically over estimated how hard it is to learn any new position regardless of position on the defensive spectrum.

What I wonder is how you quantify the value of creating an additional roster spot because someone like him can backup multiple positions. Is it simply the value of that additional player, or is it the cumulative value of that position group by having additional players (such as an additional bullpen arm, keeping the rest of the bullpen fresher)?

[ClosetBrewerFan]

What Perez proves to me is that there are enough ABs for a 6th infielder. Maybe Stearns is onto something in getting Moustakas and Schoop. There are enough ABs for all of them, including Perez.

 

As far as Perez goes, he has produced enough such that he probably has earned a job next season.