Every year before the season starts, all of us who follow prospects have our list of players that we plan to watch. However, there are usually a couple players who aren't really on anyone's radar but start turning some heads by putting up great numbers. Last year Jairo Perez was one of those players. I didn't know anything about him until he joined the Snappers and started raking.
Jairo Perez was signed as an international free agent in 2006. From Venezuela, he was 18 when he signed with the Twins. He didn't get much playing time until 2008. He hit very will for the DSL Twins batting .338 with 4 HR's and .962 OPS. The following year he came to the US and joined the GCL Twins. In 120 at bats he hit just .217 with a HR and a Triple. Things got worse for him as he missed the whole 2010 season due to Tommy John surgery. Not something you usually hear about with position players. I'm guessing he must have pitched a lot as a youth in his home country.
He started 2011 in extended spring training. In June he joined the Beloit Snappers and took off. He finished the season with a .337 batting average with 15 HR's and 20 doubles. Not to mention a whopping .992 OPS.
He is currently playing for the Fort Myers Miracle. Batting .240 with a HR and 6 doubles.
