Eddie Pérez was born on May 4, 1968, in Venezuela, and grew up in Ciudad Ojeda, where baseball was a way of life for his family. His father coached, and Eddie spent much of his childhood playing the game he loved. By 1986, his talent stood out early, and he began competing at the youth level in the Big-League World Series tournament in Florida. That same year, on September 27, he signed with the Atlanta Braves, beginning a journey that would take him from Venezuela to the Major Leagues.
The path to the big leagues was anything but easy. It required countless sacrifices, including leaving behind family, friends, and his home country. One of the biggest surprises for Eddie about professional baseball was the constant travel. He and his teammate Javy López once bought a car for just $100 and used it to drive together from town to town in the minor leagues.
All those sacrifices paid off on September 10, 1995, when Eddie made his Major League debut in Miami, pinch-hitting in a game against the Marlins. It was an unforgettable day, not only for Eddie, but also for his entire family, who had shared in the dream every step of the way.
Once he arrived, Eddie found support from teammates like Javy López and Pedro Borbón, who helped him feel at home in the big leagues. He cherished every moment, including getting the chance to play against legends like Barry Bonds, a player who left him in awe.
Eddie quickly proved himself to be everything a team could want in a backup catcher: smart, reliable, and beloved by both teammates and fans. Known as an excellent receiver and a fearless blocker of the plate, he became the last Braves catcher to master that skill before the rules changed to prevent collisions. In 1998, he had what is considered the best season by a backup catcher in Braves history, hitting .336/.404/.537 over 61 games. The following year, after Javy López went down with an injury, Eddie stepped into the starting role and delivered one of the greatest postseason performances. In the 1999 NLCS against the Mets, he went 10-for-20 with two doubles, two home runs, and five RBIs, earning NLCS MVP.
Among his most cherished memories are winning the World Series with Atlanta in 1995 and capturing that 1999 NLCS MVP award. After stints in Cleveland and Milwaukee in 2002–03, he returned to the Braves for two more seasons before transitioning into a coaching role with the organization, where he continued to share his passion and knowledge of the game.
For Eddie, baseball has always been about more than just the game. The Los Bravos platform holds a special place in his heart. When he was first coming up, there were few opportunities to highlight and celebrate Latin players. Today, he takes pride in seeing athletes from across the world represented on the field, with fans waving flags and celebrating their cultures in the stands.
Baseball also runs in the family. Eddie’s son, Andrés, was drafted by Atlanta in the 36th round of the 2016 amateur draft. He chose instead to continue his journey at the University of North Georgia, carrying forward the family’s baseball legacy.
Seeing Latino fans proudly cheer for the Braves fills Eddie with gratitude. Now serving as a coach with the Braves, Eddie remains beloved by both his players and the fans. For him, baseball has never just been a career, it has been a lifelong passion, a source of pride, and a bridge that connects culture, family, and community.
