Luis Perales

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Perales showed the arm speed to suggest plenty of fastball projection as a $75,000 signee in 2019. He quickly generated buzz as his velocity ticked into the mid 90s shortly after he turned pro. Limited by the 2020 shutdown and injuries to two professional innings through 2021, Perales dominated in 2022 chiefly with an electrifying fastball in three-inning stints. He responded well to an increased workload in 2023, showing elite stuff­--albeit with mixed results--and posting a 29% strikeout rate across two levels of Class A.
  
  Scouting Report: Though his slight frame creates concerns about injury risk, Perales is a fast mover who generates plenty of power and whip with his arm. His fastball averages 95 mph and tops out at 99 with a ridiculous 21 inches of vertical ride and 6.7 feet of extension--elite traits that will miss bats. He throws both a high-80s slider that currently grades as average, given how it tunnels off his fastball, as well as a slower one in the low 80s that plays as a hard curveball. Perales also employs a changeup but may try to redirect his offspeed offering to a splitter. He struggled with both his walk rate (13%) and hard contact (2.0 home runs per nine innings) once promoted to the hitter-friendly environment of High-A Greenville. That left questions about whether he will have the command, control or durability to stick as a starter, but his stuff is that of an impact big leaguer regardless of role.
  
  The Future: Despite never having pitched above High-A, Perales’ fastball was good enough to force his way onto the 40-man roster in November. Though he’ll most likely open 2024 at High-A Greenville, he’ll get a chance to compete for a spot in Double-A. Perales will be given plenty of runway to develop as a starter, and has a likely big league ETA of 2025.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #17 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: After signing as a projectable righthander with a fast arm for $75,000, Perales quickly emerged as a potentially electrifying pitcher who showed mid-90s velocity after a few months in the Red Sox academy in the Dominican Republic. The 2020 Covid shutdown and non-elbow arm injuries limited him to just two professional innings entering the 2022 season. Once on the mound, Perales overpowered hitters in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, earning a promotion for a season-ending stretch in Low-A Sale, where he struck out 31% of hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: Perales overwhelmed FCL hitters even when throwing nothing but fastballs, sitting at 94-97, topping out at 99 with ride from a low release height. Pushed to lean more frequently on his secondaries, Perales showed a power slider that flashed plus. It was especially effective against righties, but he couldn't control it consistently and he would sometimes slow his arm speed on it, allowing hitters to spit on pitches out of the zone. His changeup was fringy but showed promise as a third piece in a developing mix. Though capped at three innings per outing in 2022, Perales will continue to develop as a starter, learning to navigate lineups multiple times in 2023.
  
  The Future: Perales has mid-rotation upside, but the variance of his potential outcomes is immense. If he doesn't start, his fastball makes it easy to see a future late-innings reliever if he can stay healthy. He'll likely open 2023 in Low-A Salem.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: After signing as a projectable righthander with a fast arm for $75,000, Perales quickly emerged as a potentially electrifying pitcher who showed mid-90s velocity after a few months in the Red Sox academy in the Dominican Republic. The 2020 Covid shutdown and non-elbow arm injuries limited him to just two professional innings entering the 2022 season. Once on the mound, Perales overpowered hitters in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, earning a promotion for a season-ending stretch in Low-A Sale, where he struck out 31% of hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: Perales overwhelmed FCL hitters even when throwing nothing but fastballs, sitting at 94-97, topping out at 99 with ride from a low release height. Pushed to lean more frequently on his secondaries, Perales showed a power slider that flashed plus. It was especially effective against righties, but he couldn't control it consistently and he would sometimes slow his arm speed on it, allowing hitters to spit on pitches out of the zone. His changeup was fringy but showed promise as a third piece in a developing mix. Though capped at three innings per outing in 2022, Perales will continue to develop as a starter, learning to navigate lineups multiple times in 2023.
  
  The Future: Perales has mid-rotation upside, but the variance of his potential outcomes is immense. If he doesn't start, his fastball makes it easy to see a future late-innings reliever if he can stay healthy. He'll likely open 2023 in Low-A Salem.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: After signing as a projectable righthander with a fast arm for $75,000, Perales quickly emerged as a potentially electrifying pitcher who showed mid-90s velocity after a few months in the Red Sox academy in the Dominican Republic. The 2020 Covid shutdown and non-elbow arm injuries limited him to just two professional innings entering the 2022 season. Once on the mound, Perales overpowered hitters in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, earning a promotion for a season-ending stretch in Low-A Sale, where he struck out 31% of hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: Perales overwhelmed FCL hitters even when throwing nothing but fastballs, sitting at 94-97, topping out at 99 with ride from a low release height. Pushed to lean more frequently on his secondaries, Perales showed a power slider that flashed plus. It was especially effective against righties, but he couldn't control it consistently and he would sometimes slow his arm speed on it, allowing hitters to spit on pitches out of the zone. His changeup was fringy but showed promise as a third piece in a developing mix. Though capped at three innings per outing in 2022, Perales will continue to develop as a starter, learning to navigate lineups multiple times in 2023.
  
  The Future: Perales has mid-rotation upside, but the variance of his potential outcomes is immense. If he doesn't start, his fastball makes it easy to see a future late-innings reliever if he can stay healthy. He'll likely open 2023 in Low-A Salem.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Perales has developed from a low-bonus international signing out of Venezuela in 2019 into an exciting pitching prospect, albeit one with minimal experience. He has loose, easy arm action, a sound delivery and a fastball that he has dialed up to 98 mph this year in Boston's complex in the Dominican Republic, showing good feel for a curveball as well.