Martin Perez Interview

by jparks77 on Jan 13, 2009 7:46 AM EST

Q: What was it like playing in the Unites States, separated from everything that was familiar to you?

Perez: Its not easy if you don't know the language. If you come from Venezuela, like me, you have to get used to how difficult it can be here in the States. You are alone and bored, but that's what you have to do if you are going to be here for years without family, without friends, without anyone. It is hard, but it's worth it.

Q: How do you deal with that isolation at such a young age?

Perez: I left my house at the age of fifteen and I am the youngest of my family, so I felt really alone. Little by little you realize that without your family around you, you have to develop another kind of attitude. You have to focus on other things. But it's something you have to work at little by little, to get used to being alone.

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you=awesome

The pics of his pitches are a nice touch. Impressive young man.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jan 13, 2009 8:37 AM EST reply actions

How do you feel he will adjust? Does he seem mentally strong? Some of his quotes made me question how well he would handle adversity. Both about going to Valencia (which sounded grueling) and how he’d be fine next year if he started well. Just curious.

Thanks and great job

Remember: baseball guys... baseball...

by JD Sussman on Jan 13, 2009 5:00 PM EST reply actions

Thanks

Perez was only 15 years old when he started training in Valencia and had never been away from home before, so I think his initial apprehension was to be expected. The comment about “next year” was slightly lost in translation. His point was that he if he can get off to a good start in Hickory it would benefit him all season.

Perez is equipped to handle adversity thanks to the support of his parents and his close friends in the Rangers system, most notably Wilfredo Boscan and Wilmer Font. It’s pretty remarkable to think about playing professional baseball 4,000 miles away from home when you are only 17 years old. The Rangers wouldn’t have pushed Perez if they didn’t think he was going to be able to handle it. The fact that he not only managed to pitch in the NWL at that age, but to also have success, says quite a bit about the kid.

He’s a tough kid.

Martin Perez Interview

by jparks77 on Jan 13, 2009 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Movie to recommend - "Sugar"

….even though I haven’t actually seen it yet.

The director who made “Half Nelson” (one of my favorite movies from a few years back that earned Ryan Gosling an Oscar nomination) made his next movie about a pitching prospect from the Dominican coming to the States for his first season at age 19. It got terrific reviews, but was a small arthouse movie that never made it to Nashville. My understanding is that is should be out on DVD soon, and it’s already in my Netflix wait list. It just occurred to me reading the above post that many guys that check this site out might also want to check this movie out when it becomes available.

by mac37203 on Jan 14, 2009 8:19 AM EST reply actions

Very cool

Martin Perez Interview

by jparks77 on Jan 14, 2009 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

How did I hear nothing about that?

Actually, how did that not get into theaters?

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jan 14, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

This movie has got to be worth seeing . . .

for nothing else than checking out Jose Rijo in his first acting role not playing “himself” . . . he also served as a “baseball consultant” on this movie. It also has a couple of minor award nominations.

by mestifo on Jan 17, 2009 10:40 AM EST up reply actions