Catcher Roberto Perez expresses frustration with injury, hopes to return to Pirates next year

When Roberto Perez collapsed while rounding second base, the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher was hoping that he had just tweaked his left hamstring. The pop he heard told him otherwise.

“I knew right away,” Perez said Monday at PNC Park, after undergoing season-ending surgery last week. “I’d never been in so much pain ever before. I knew right away something was wrong, and I was going to miss significant time. It ended up being out for the season.”

Pirates catcher Roberto Perez talks about the frustration of his season-ending hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/ZJwDcmIUmd

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) May 23, 2022

As Perez spoke, the 33-year-old backstop swayed back and forth on his crutches while wearing a brace on his left leg. It marked the third consecutive season marred by injuries for the former two-time AL Gold Glove winner, who played only 44 games for Cleveland in 2021.

Perhaps the most frustrating part is that Perez was slashing .233/.333/.367 with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs through 21 games and helping mold a young pitching staff when he was injured May 7 in the first game of a doubleheader at Cincinnati.

“Man, I was having a good year,” Perez said. “I knew what kind of player I was when I was healthy. I was getting on base. I was hitting the ball hard. Started to feel better at the plate and leading the pitching staff. I thought we were pitching very well. It was a freak injury. It happened when I was giving 100%, trying to take that extra base. It’s part of the game. Now, I’ve just got to come back stronger and get ready for 2023.”

Perez is hoping that’s with the Pirates, who signed him to a one-year, $5 million contract last fall in hopes of solidifying the position after trading NL Gold Glove winner Jacob Stallings to the Miami Marlins for pitcher Zach Thompson and a pair of minor-league prospects.

Roberto Perez expresses desire to return to play for the Pirates next season, says he owes them after his season-ending surgery. pic.twitter.com/23EHxuf7Bb

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) May 23, 2022

“I want to come back here,” Perez said. “When I say come back here, come back to Pittsburgh. I feel like I owe them another year of me. I love it here. Great organization. They have treated me well. I love the coaching staff. I love the people around them. The players. The front office. They have been so good to me, and I feel like I owe them. Hopefully I’ll be back. I’m hoping to come back. Hopefully we get them done.”