A surplus of familiar faces is set to greet Miguel Perez when he joins the Pittsburgh Pirates for spring training in a few months.
Perez, whom the Pirates named big-league bullpen coach Friday afternoon, spent the last three seasons as skipper of the Indianapolis Indians.
After overseeing the Pirates’ Triple-A club, Perez expects to quickly reconnect with many players he both knows personally and had the pleasure in the past of informing them that they were headed to MLB.
“I have been the guy who told them, ‘Hey, you made it to the big leagues for the first time,’” Perez told reporters by Zoom on Friday. “I’ve seen those guys come into Indy, and I’m excited to continue that connection, that relationship with them throughout the years.
“I’m excited to continue to be a part of their process because in the end, it’s about them.”
Perez, 41, led the Indians to a 221-223 overall record over the past three seasons as manager and enters his 11th year in the Pirates organization.
A native of Gautire, Venezuela, Perez was an international free agent signing by the Cincinnati Reds in 2000 and played briefly in the major leagues with them in 2005.
As a former catcher, Perez feels well-suited to step into the position of bullpen coach, which he takes over from Justin Meccage, who was not retained after five years in the role.
“Pitching is one of my areas that I am passionate about,” he said. “Being behind the plate — I always called the catcher the VIP seat of the game. It’s one who is in charge of creating a mindset, a winning mindset, in charge of taking care of the guy on the mound.
“I’m excited about this role, bringing the experience that I have from being a catcher, that’s what makes me excited about it. I love to build relationships with the pitchers; that was my strength back when I played.”
This spring, Perez should benefit from existing relationships with numerous relievers who are expected to play prominent roles in the Pirates bullpen, such as Colin Holderman, who appeared in a handful of games with the Indians in 2022 after the Pirates acquired him from the New York Mets.
Last year, Holderman also appeared in 11 games for Indianapolis on various rehab assignments.
Perez also knows Carmen Mlodzinski, who pitched in 31 games at Triple-A in 2023 and 2024, as well as Kyle Nicolas.
Furthermore, Perez likely will serve as a beacon of familiarity for the next generation of Pirates pitchers who be in the conversation for call-ups in 2025.
That shortlist includes 25-year-old Braxton Ashcraft, the Pirates’ No. 4 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, who struggled with injuries after being promoted to Triple-A in June but compiled a 1-0 record and 0.47 ERA in five appearances he did make for the Indians.
The same could be said of Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh’s No. 1 prospect who was also promoted to Triple-A last year and impressed with the Indians, going 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA in seven starts.
Perez can expect to see both of them soon enough at spring training, to which they’ll in all likelihood be invited.
Both with the Pirates’ current lineup of pitchers as well as those who may join the club at a later date, Perez is looking forward to getting to work.
“We have so much talent in the minor leagues and the big leagues,” Perez said. “Our bullpen has so many good arms and the bullpen’s going to be great this year. It’s going to be strong.
“… Being able to be sitting next to them at the highest level and keep pushing them to get the best version of them will be, for me, it is great. It’s exciting. Cannot be more grateful to being part of their process. Bullpen’s going to be strong.”