It’s easy for there to be concern when skimming through the Tribe’s roster, realizing that just three players on the 40-man are at least 30 years old.

It’s a team made up of a lot of young, inexperienced talent, especially in the rotation. Of all the remaining candidates left for starting jobs, none are older than 26. But that’s where the team will need to rely heavily on Roberto Pérez.

Pérez debuted in 2014 and spent five years backing up Yan Gomes. After the '18 season, the Indians traded Gomes to the Nationals, leaving the starting job to Pérez, who had been patiently waiting for his chance. As a 30-year-old in '19, Pérez got his first chance as the starting catcher and quickly proved to be one of the best defensive backstops in the game.

There’s not a day that goes by where a Cleveland starting pitcher meets with local media and doesn’t credit Pérez for his work behind the dish. According to Statcast, Pérez ranked in the 85th percentile or better in framing in each of the last two years and he has consistently ranked above average in framing for the past five seasons. He’s compiled 77 career Defensive Runs Saved, which is the most by a catcher in the Majors since 2014.

“He's one of the very best, and it's kind of proven itself out the last couple of years,” manager Terry Francona said. “His ability to care about getting his pitcher through an inning or a game or a tight situation -- they believe in him so much, and they should. His feel for making adjustments during a game is really, really good.”

Along with his stellar defense (supported by the two Gold Glove Awards he’s earned in as many years as Clevelantd's starting backstop), Pérez has shown a natural ability to lead a pitching staff. Last year, he helped a young staff to the highest fWAR in the Majors. This year, he said he’s excited for the challenge of working with an even younger rotation.

“It is fun,” Pérez said. “I was looking forward [to it] since we traded [Francisco] Lindor and [Carlos] Carrasco -- I thought I had my hands full when they left. I've always been a leader of this ballclub, but they're so easy to work with. They're young, but they're mature. They know what they're doing. It's not like they're walking around searching for things. We have the right coaches that make it easier for all of us.

“I've got a big responsibility this year in my hands. Looking forward, it's going to be a fun season. … There's a lot of people out there counting us out, but we're going to surprise a lot of people.”

Indians ace Shane Bieber is always the first to recognize Pérez for his efforts. For almost all of Bieber’s big league career, Pérez has been his primary batterymate. When Pérez first took over for Gomes in 2019, Bieber was the young hurler who was still competing for a spot in a rotation that was full of veterans like Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco. Only two years later, Bieber is the seasoned starter of the rotation, watching Pérez help guide the young arms, just as he did for Bieber a few seasons ago.

“It's special,” Bieber said. “I still lean on him quite a bit, but it's special to see him take other guys -- a little bit younger than myself -- under his wing and to mentor them kind of like he has to me in the past. I've said a lot about Roberto, and I mean every word. He's one of the best and a great clubhouse guy, as well, and he absolutely knows what he's doing behind the plate, and he's the best of the best there. To have him to lean on -- especially the pitching staff, the rotation, the bullpen, everybody, with some young arms coming up -- will be huge.”