When a team managed by Braves bullpen coach Eddie Perez won the Venezuela Winter League title and advanced to the Feb. 7 Caribbean Series championship game against Mexico, a whole lot of people were pulling for Venezuela who had no connection to the country. They were pulling for Perez.
He has that effect on people. Seems like everyone who meets Perez, 47, comes away feeling better about things. He’s very smart, funny, loyal, candid, upbeat, and always smiling – at least away from games.
In games or workouts when the situation calls for it, Perez can be deadly serious. Anyone who’s been around the fun-loving guy knows not to screw around near him when it’s time for work.
“I’m not surprised at all of Eddie’s success as a manager,” said Chipper Jones, former teammate and legendary Braves third baseman. “It is just a matter of time before he is experiencing success as a big league manager. He’s learned a ton, as have many coaches, from the great Bobby Cox. Some of the same traits that made him an all-time favorite teammate for countless players, are also what makes him a great manager now, and in the future.”
Commanding respect is crucial for a good coach or manager, and Perez does that while being genuinely liked.
“Absolutely,” said Braves reliever David Carpenter. “And you couldn’t be happier for a better guy.”
Perez already displayed his managerial skills in previous winter-ball seasons, and some believe he might benefit from the increased exposure of in Venezuela’s run to the Carribbean Series final – broadcast live on ESPN News – to start showing up on lists of potential candidates for major league managerial openings.
“Eddie may be one of those who is better as a manager than a coach,” Braves general manager John Coppolella said. “He’s extremely smart and has a feel not only for the game, but also a sense of timing. Eddie’s sense of humor is legendary, but he can be tough when it’s needed and he has great respect throughout our organization.”
Astros slugger and former Braves catcher Evan Gattis said, “Other than his obvious people skills and baseball knowledge, he has a good balance between being no-nonsense, and being a guy you look forward to playing for.”
“Everyone likes him,” Braves pitcher Matt Wisler said. “He can speak Spanish, speaks good English, he’s a funny guy. Good guy to have a conversation with, to sit there and talk with. He definitely cares for his players. I’ve sat in the bullpen and talked with him a couple of times. It’s nice to have a guy like that around.”
The catcher’s baseball acumen was why Hall of Famer Greg Maddux famously preferred that Perez catch his games in the late ‘90s, even though Perez was backup to a far superior hitter, Javy Lopez.
Current Braves pitchers who’ve had a chance to spend time with Perez in the bullpen or elsewhere come away feeling enriched by the experience.
“He’s got a good baseball mind,” said Wisler, a starter who also worked briefly as a reliever as a rookie in 2015. “He’s a catcher; most catchers are guys who can turn into coaches. He caught the great pitchers they had here, so he knows pitching. And he knows catching. He’s just a good baseball mind to have.”
