Brewers prospects’ career revival continues with promotion to next level

Milwaukee Brewers' outfield prospect Hedbert Pérez has been through the wringer since joining the organization as part of their 2019 international free agent class. It started with Pérez missing out on his first season of professional baseball due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling minor league baseball back in 2020. Pérez, who was just 17 years old at the time, missed out on learning the ropes of professional baseball in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) like many of the Brewers’ other international free agent signees.

The DSL is where fellow Venezuelan outfielder Jackson Chourio first turned heads, a path that current Brewers top prospect Jesús Made followed to a tee. Pérez was denied a chance to play in the DSL and rather jumped right to the Arizona Complex League (ACL) in 2021. However, Pérez met the challenge head-on, and posted a strong slash line of .333/.394/.575 with the ACL Brewers, showcasing a unique blend of power and an ability to get on base.

Unfortunately, that success did not carry over when Pérez was promoted to Low-A for the final 16 games of the 2021 season. When 2022 rolled around, Pérez remained in Low-A with the Carolina Mudcats and slashed an underwhelming .216/.272/.393 in 105 games. That performance led to Pérez remaining with the Mudcats for the 2023 season, and his numbers got even worse. On top of that, Pérez suffered a major setback, sustaining a season-ending injury in mid-July. He remained sidelined until August of 2024. Needing to progress his development process, the Brewers sent him to High-A to compete with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for the final month of the 2024 season. Though his numbers remained uninspiring, returning to the diamond was a big win for Pérez.

This season, enjoying his first fully healthy season since 2022, Pérez is once again showcasing the exciting tools that lead him to become the Brewers’ 3rd best prospect back in 2021.

Hedbert Pérez's career revival continues with promotion to Double-A

Pérez was back with the Timber Rattlers to begin the 2025 season. In 84 games in Appleton, he slashed .209/.330/.411 with 14 homers. While the batting average remains low, the solid on-base percentage and above-average slugging percentage suggests that Pérez is back to his former self. Additionally, his 14 longballs remain the most for the Timber Rattlers this season.

In his fifth year in the Brewers farm system, the organization needed to continue to move Pérez through the minor leagues. With the now 22-year-old demonstrating an ability to produce against High-A pitching, Pérez was promoted to Double-A, where he joins the Biloxi Shuckers. It's an exciting development for Pérez, whose baseball career looked like it was in jeopardy last year, due to injuries that were out of his control.

With a father, Robert Pérez, who played in parts of six major league seasons, including a brief stint with the Milwaukee Brewers, Hedbert is no doubt aware of the hard work and resilience that it takes to reach the big leagues. His performance this season demonstrates a willingness to exercise that resilience and revive his career. As a former top prospect, the potential remains for Pérez and his output this season suggests that his story is far from complete.

Pérez debuted for the Shuckers on Tuesday night and went 0-4, but the fact that he's healthy and competing against the excellent pitching in the Southern League is no doubt a positive development for both Pérez and the Brewers. He wasn't in the lineup on Wednesday night and the Shuckers were rained out on Thursday, but Pérez should get another shot at Double-A pitching when Biloxi takes on the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Cincinnati Reds' Double-A affiliate, on Friday.