WASHINGTON -- Flamethrower Luis Perales could factor into the Nationals’ starting rotation as soon as next season. For now, the 23-year-old righty is embracing the chance to pitch out of the Nats’ bullpen and get his feet wet in the Major Leagues.
The Nationals’ No. 12 prospect was recalled from Triple-A Rochester before Wednesday’s game against the Rockies. He came on with two outs in the fifth inning to make his Major League debut, and after walking Willi Castro, he then struck Mickey Moniak on an 89.9 mph splitter to end the frame.
“It means a lot to me,” Perales said via team interpreter Mauricio Ortiz. “This is what you dream of as a kid, right? You set your goal to get to the big leagues, and of course being here, I've already accomplished that goal, but the most important goal for me is to maintain myself in the big leagues.”
Perales arrives in Washington after going 7-5 with a 3.64 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 25 appearances (19 starts) across 96 1/3 innings in Triple-A.
Perales was primarily used as a starter this season, before recently transitioning to the bullpen with a big league opportunity in mind. In three relief appearances since Aug. 15, Perales tossed six scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts.
“All of my teammates have been really helpful,” he said of adapting to the reliever role. “I've been asking a lot of questions on how to go about my routine. I've been feeling good and it doesn't matter the role – starter or reliever – I'm ready.”
Rochester manager Matt LeCroy delivered the callup news to Perales on Tuesday night. The first person he called was his mom.
“She kind of knew, because as soon as she picked up, her eyes were kind of watery,” he said. “And I told her, 'Well, prepare yourself because you're going to see me tomorrow pitch in D.C.' So, after that, she was just really excited and really happy, and she was crying a lot.”
Perales signed with the Red Sox in 2019 before the Nationals acquired him in December in a swap of pitching prospects.
The trade was one of the first completed by president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, who joined the club last fall from Boston and knew Perales.
Perales underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 but returned in September and made three late-season Minor League appearances.
Perales is back to full health this season, and the Nationals are eager to see how he handles his first taste of big league competition. His four-seam fastball regularly hits the upper 90s mph or triple digits, and his fastball averaged 98.9 mph in his last start on Aug. 6, per Baseball Savant.
“I think what stands out right away is the stuff, the velocity, of course,” manager Blake Butera said. “He’s been using the split a lot, which has been really good for him. He started most of the year, then moved him to the ’pen to help us out up here. And it’s been really good of late, so I’m excited to get him an opportunity here.”
Butera suggested the Nationals will monitor Perales’ workload and don’t intend to extend him beyond two innings in a given appearance.