Aug. 19, 2003

USD's Tony Perez Signed By Tampa Bay Devil Rays

San Diego, CA- One of the best all around baseball players to ever play for the University of San Diego, was signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Tony Perez, a record setting left-handed pitcher and switch-hitting outfielder will play for the Devil Rays' Hudson Valley Renegades (A) in the New York Penn League.

Perez, San Diego's true closer throughout the 2003 season, was signed by Tampa Bay as a left-handed pitcher. Perez racked up a school record 13 saves and posted a 3.20 ERA in league play this past season while leading the Toreros to back-to-back West Coast Conference Championships.

Perez posted a team-high seven saves as a junior, highlighted by three scoreless innings of relief to close out the 2002 WCC Championship Series. More recently Perez hurled two innings of one-hit baseball to eliminate Arizona in NCAA Regional play earlier this month.

As the Torero team MVP and an All-West Coast Conference First Team selection in 2003, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Perez excelled as the Torero leadoff hitter and everyday centerfielder. Perez owns three all-time career-batting records at USD (walks drawn, runs scored and career on-base %). As a switch-hitter, Perez leaves San Diego with a career batting average of .314 and hit 14 homeruns over his four-year stint at Alcala Park.

"Tampa Bay has signed a very special player," commented fifth-year San Diego head coach Rich Hill. "Tony Perez was definitely our team MVP this season for more than just the numbers he put up. It was his competitiveness, his desire to win and his desire to do things the right way made him one of the best players to ever play here at USD. I think he will have a great pro career."