Perez proving more than a throw-in

Infielder who came to Rays with Piniella has dazzled with play, energy.

He has been included in trades involving two of the biggest names in the game, sent to Seattle as part of the deal for Ken Griffey and to Tampa Bay with Lou Piniella.

But Antonio Perez seems determined to make a name for himself.

When the Rays agreed to trade their top player, Randy Winn, to Seattle to bring Piniella in as manager, the inclusion of Perez, a minor-league infielder who'd missed parts of the past three seasons because of injuries, was barely noticed.

Five weeks since the Rays called him up from Triple A, Perez has been hard to miss.

The Dominican native, 23, has played steady defense at several infield positions, shown impressive speed on the bases and hit for a sturdy average (.309, including three three-hit games in 19 starts) with surprising power for his size (5 feet 11, 175 pounds).

"We couldn't be more impressed with what he's doing," general manager Chuck LaMar said.

Piniella knew Perez from the three seasons he spent in the Mariners' minor-league system after coming over from Cincinnati in the February 2000 Griffey megadeal. He was the No. 2 piece in a four-player package headlined by Mike Cameron, but Piniella didn't know he'd be this good this soon.

"From the first time I saw this kid four years ago in Seattle, he's improved," Piniella said. "He's gotten a little more disciplined at home plate, he's learned to hit the ball more straightaway and he's learned to play a few positions; when we had him he was just a shortstop."

Perez's biggest problem in the Mariners organization was staying in the lineup. He missed two months of the 2000 season because of a broken right hand, all but five games of the 2001 season because of a broken right wrist and two months of the 2002 season with a bruised right wrist.

"He just had some bad luck over there," Piniella said.

His luck changed in October when LaMar convinced the Mariners that if he were going to give up Winn, an All-Star outfielder, for the right to sign Piniella he had to get a player, too. Perez was one of the first names he mentioned.

"What sticks out is how he enjoys being on the field," LaMar said. "Watch him in early work. Watch how he goes about playing a major-league game. He enjoys being out there.

"And he thinks he can hit, and for a young guy that's half the battle. We rushed him, and truth be known he could still use some at-bats at Triple A. ...

"But right off the bat (you notice) his enthusiasm, that he likes being on the field, and that he thinks he can hit. Those are two great qualities for a young guy."

Perez is quiet to begin with, and the language barrier remains an issue. With teammate Javier Valentin interpreting, Perez said, essentially, that he's happy to be here.

"Every day, I'm trying to do something better, trying to learn something every day," Perez said. "Wherever I am, I work hard."

He grew up in the baseball-crazy Dominican fooling around in the streets with rolled-up paper balls and makeshift bats but didn't begin playing organized ball until the relative old age of 14. He signed with the Reds shortly after turning 18, stole 58 bases in 63 games in the Dominican Summer League, then came to the States the next year.

He was surprised the Reds traded him, surprised the Mariners traded him and surprised the Rays are letting him play so much. He is, however, determined to make the most of it. "I want to be here," he said.

The Rays will continue moving him around the infield, using him at second base, shortstop and third in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup. Second base seems to be his best position, and he may end up being the starter there next season. At the least, he'll be a top-notch utility infielder.

"Antonio is a part of our future here," Piniella said. "When we got him I told Chuck he had a high ceiling. He's getting an opportunity and he's making the most of it. He knows how to play."