ANAHEIM – More than once this season, Angels catcher Geovany Soto told teammate Carlos Perez to relax. And more than once, the 25-year-old Perez would grip the bat tightly, resisting the advice of his 33-year-old mentor.
Perez ultimately learned his lesson the hard way.
By the All-Star break, he had nearly as many strikeouts (35) as hits (38). His .204 batting average left the Angels little choice but to send him to Triple-A to clear his mind.
It worked. As soon as he arrived in Salt Lake, Perez said, “I just felt like you don’t have to have that kind of pressure.