Wenceel Pérez Bio
Wenceel Xavier Pérez is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on October 30, 1999, he signed with the Tigers as an international free agent on July 2, 2016, and made his Major League debut in 2024. After several seasons moving through the Tigers’ minor league affiliates, Pérez established himself as a versatile position player capable of contributing on both sides of the ball.
Across his development path, Pérez gained attention for his plate discipline, contact skills, and baserunning ability. His promotion to the Major League roster in 2024 marked the realization of a journey that began in the Dominican Summer League and progressed through nearly every level of the Tigers’ farm system. By 2025, he had become a regular contributor in the Detroit outfield.
Wenceel Pérez Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Pérez began his professional career with the Dominican Summer League Tigers in 2017. Over his first 61 games, he hit .314 with a .387 on-base percentage, drawing 27 walks compared to 21 strikeouts while also stealing sixteen bases. That performance earned him a call-up to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Tigers in 2018.
In the GCL, Pérez quickly demonstrated that he was ready for a larger challenge. He hit .383 with a .462 on-base percentage across twenty games and was promoted to the Low-A Connecticut Tigers. After roughly a month in Connecticut, he was moved again to the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he opened his tenure with a four-for-four performance that included two runs scored and finished at .309 over sixteen games.
West Michigan Whitecaps Era (2019–2021)
Pérez spent the full 2019 season with the West Michigan Whitecaps. Over 124 games, he batted .233 with a .299 on-base percentage, hitting three home runs, sixteen doubles, six triples, and 30 RBI while stealing 21 bases. Ahead of that campaign, MLB.com ranked him as the number 12 prospect in the Detroit Tigers’ system. The 2020 minor league season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping Pérez off the field for the year.
He returned in 2021 and split the year between Lakeland and West Michigan. In 113 combined appearances, Pérez batted .256 with a .329 on-base percentage and a .360 slugging line, adding four home runs, 43 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. The 2021 showing reinforced his reputation as a contact-oriented outfielder with steady on-base skills and reliable baserunning instincts.
Erie SeaWolves and Toledo Mud Hens (2022–2023)
In 2022, Pérez played 94 games between West Michigan and the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, producing a combined .295/.369/.534 slash line with 14 home runs, 66 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. His power production represented a noticeable step forward and positioned him for a place on the Tigers’ major league radar.
On November 15, 2022, the Tigers added Pérez to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He began 2023 at Triple-A Toledo and appeared in 116 games across Single-A Lakeland, Erie, and Toledo, batting a cumulative .274 with a .368 on-base percentage, a .417 slugging percentage, 9 home runs, 48 RBI, and 26 stolen bases. Pérez was again optioned to Toledo to open the 2024 season before earning his first Major League call-up.
Detroit Tigers Era (2024–Present)
Pérez was promoted to the Major Leagues for the first time on April 8, 2024. In his first MLB at-bat on April 13, he singled off Minnesota Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson and promptly stole second base. On April 28, in a game against the Kansas City Royals, Pérez hit his first Major League home run off Michael Wacha. He went on to appear in 112 games for Detroit as a rookie, batting .242 with a .300 on-base percentage, a .383 slugging percentage, nine home runs, 37 RBI, and nine stolen bases.
Pérez began the 2025 season on the injured list with lumbar spine inflammation and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 8. After being activated on May 27, 2025, he homered in his first at-bat. In 100 games for the 2025 Tigers, he hit .244 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI, cementing his place as a regular contributor in the Detroit outfield.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Pérez’s most memorable early Major League moments were his debut single and stolen base against the Twins and his first home run off the Royals’ Michael Wacha. His placement on the Tigers’ 40-man roster in November 2022 and his MLB debut in April 2024 represent the defining milestones of his professional path so far.
2025 Season Performance
Pérez’s 2025 campaign was interrupted early by a lumbar spine issue that placed him on the injured list and eventually the 60-day injured list. After his activation on May 27, 2025, he returned with an immediate home run in his first at-bat, signaling that his offensive timing remained intact. Across 100 games for the Tigers, he batted .244 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI.
His production provided the Tigers with a steady outfield bat and reliable defense following his return from the injured list. The 2025 season also showed growth in his power output compared to his 2024 rookie year, as his home run total increased while he maintained a similar batting average. With his health stabilized, Pérez remained a part of Detroit’s outfield mix heading into the offseason.