The Brewster

Relief Specialist Gets His Groove Back


June 29, 2045: SOUTH BEND, IN – After four successful seasons with the Nine, 26-year-old relief ace Sergio Perez can perhaps be forgiven for thinking his situation was pretty secure. He was coming off a solid 3.14 ERA season in 49 innings, he was due to make $1.15M for the following year. “I thought I had it all,” he said.

Life is weird, though. He felt it even in spring camp. Suddenly the slider wasn’t sliding and the fast ball had gotten straighter. “It wasn’t anything physical,” he said. “I mean, it would have been easier to take if it were physical. And I didn’t really talk much about it, but facts are facts. He made the big-league club mostly on the strength of his past, but ten innings of 8.71 ERA ball later, Perez found himself on the bus to Indianapolis, whereupon he sat down with pitching coach Eric Tucker and began to work a few things out.

“Mostly he’s been talking to me about enjoying the moment,” Perez said. “I pride myself on my ability to adjust and compete, but I think I was just kind of dialed in on being too perfect.” Some have noted that Perez is nearing his free agency seasons, and looking at being the kind of relief ace who could command bigger dollars.

Whatever Tucker said, it seems to have worked out.

Perez has been used sparingly, only six innings so far, but his numbers are back where pretty much everyone wants them. And today word comes that as the club enters a game with the South Bend Proudest Monkeys, his workload will be increased.

“I want to be back in the majors before the season is over,” Perez said. “But the fact is that this is a good place to be. I’m looking forward to getting guys out in South Bend and letting the rest happen as it’s going to happen.”