So there’s Joel Peralta, circling the Mariners’ clubhouse on a scooter, wearing a Donald Trump wig as teammates chuckle. A cursory glance would suggest that, in Peralta’s mind at least, adulthood is still light years away.
The thing of it is, the middle reliever has spent more time as a grown up than anyone on the Mariners roster. That scooter scene took place March 23 — when Peralta turned 40.
“I’m always making fun of him,” 23-year-old pitcher Taijuan Walker said of Peralta. “I call him ‘old man’ all the time.”
Peralta isn’t the oldest player in MLB (the Mets, Marlins, Red Sox and Blue Jays each have someone 41 or older), but he may have the most emotional wear and tear.