Cleveland Indians Place Roberto Perez on Disabled List

Roberto Perez Fractures Thumb and Goes on DL

According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Indians have placed backup catcher Roberto Perez on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right thumb.

The last thing the Indians need are more injuries and while Perez is just the backup to starter Yan Gomes, it’s still a pretty devastating injury. Perez has proven to be a great defensive catcher since joining the team in 2014. In just over 800 innings he has a +14 DRS (defensive runs saved) and has thrown out 41% of would be base stealers.  He’s helped the Indians have arguably the best catching duo in baseball. 

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Offensively Perez is no slouch either. While he’s only hit .235 for his career he has a .340 OBP thanks to a stellar 13.1% walk rate. This year he’s done much of the same as he’s yet to record a hit 15 plate appearances but has a .400 OBP thanks to six walks (against just two strikeouts by the way).

Replacing Perez will be veteran catcher Adam Moore. Moore, who turns 32 a week from today, nearly made the Indians’ club out of spring training when Perez was dealing with concussion symptoms. Moore is in his second season with Indians’ organization, having joined them a year ago. He appeared in one game for the Tribe in 2015 at the end of the season.

So far this year at Triple-A Columbus, Moore has hit just .156 with a .558 OPS.  In his big league career, which spans parts of seven seasons, Moore has hit .201 with a .550 OPS in just 87 games. He’s a career backup and nothing more.  The Indians purchased the contract of Moore, who was not on the Tribe’s 40-man roster; however, no extra move was required to add him as the roster was only at 39. The Indians had designated reliever Ross Detwiler for assignment on Friday to make room on the 25-man roster for reliever Tommy Hunter.

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Hopefully for the Indians Perez’s injury isn’t too serious and he’s able to return quickly. The Tribe has a great starter in Yan Gomes but having a catcher who’s capable of being a starter on most teams coming off the bench like Perez can is invaluable to the club. Perez is no stranger to battling an injury or illness. In addition to the concussion symptoms he battled earlier this year, he’s also overcome Bell’s Palsy, which nearly derailed his career in 2013. He’s a fighter and hopefully he can fight thru this injury be back soon.