OAKLAND, Calif. — Two-time Gold Glover Roberto Pérez is set to make the Giants’ Opening Day roster, manager Gabe Kapler confirmed on Sunday.
“Roberto Pérez has been added to the roster,” Kapler said. “We made decisions on the whole catching group. Not quite ready to make that announcement.”
The Mercury News initially broke the news that Pérez would break camp with the Giants.
Pérez, 34, signed a minor league deal with an invite to Giants spring training. The nine-year veteran has earned rave reviews from Giants pitchers this spring for his instincts and catching ability.
Pérez is a career .207 hitter, but he did hit 24 home runs for Cleveland in 2019. In 10 Cactus League games, Pérez is hitting .261 with one home run.
Due to shoulder and hamstring injuries, the catcher has played just 65 games over the past two seasons.
Given his age and injury history, Pérez isn’t viewed internally as an everyday catcher option. The Giants haven’t made the rest of their catcher room official, but Joey Bart and Rule 5 acquisition Blake Sabol are the likeliest to make the team, leaving Austin Wynns in the minors.