From plumber to a World Series roster: The story of the Giants' Juan Perez
The Giants' Perez: From plumber to World Series OF
On Tuesday, Giants backup outfielder Juan Perez will be on his first World Series roster. Nearly a decade ago, he was a part-time plumber living in the Bronx.
After going undrafted out of DeWitt Clinton High School in the mid-2000s, the teenager took a job at his father's plumbing business.
Although winters were spent indoors, during summers, Perez continued to chase his dream in La Caribe Baseball League -- an NYC-based sandlot league known for Manny Ramirez, merengue music and the occasional dugout beer. Urged by his father to take a more serious run at a career in baseball, Perez enrolled at Western Oklahoma State College -- an NJCAA Divison II team that included former LLWS pitcher Danny Almonte.
Perez set records for home runs and RBIs during his 2008 season with WOSC and was taken by the Giants in that year's draft. He saw his first MLB action last year and has recorded two hits and two runs in 13 at-bats this postseason.
Here's hoping he gets some action this week. It would be a cool additon to an already unique story.