August 31^st, 2019: Worcester, Massachusetts

My name is Juan Pérez and this could well be the most exciting day of my life so far. I was born in San Miguel De Allende in Mexico 24 years ago and today I am aboard a bus bound for Manchester on the far side of Boston. I don’t normally get this excited about a bus journey but it is taking me to my mythical “Cup of Coffee” in the PEBA. All being well I will be sat tomorrow in the bullpen at Whiten Field waiting to make my first ever pitches in the major leagues. Then in the evening I, together with all my new teammates, will board a plane for the capital of England in Europe and I will see the home of my team, the London Underground, for the first time as a member of their playing squad.

When I was drafted by the Mérida Adelantados of the Mexican Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera eighth overall in the 2011 draft I thought I had made it ! I was a professional baseball player, I had achieved my goal in life. Of course my mates & I watched the PEBA on the TV but none of us ever dreamt of playing in it. You had to be a real special player to make it in the world’s best league. I made my debut with Mérida in 2014 but it was short lived. Released at the end of the year I spent time in the minors of the Guaynabo Commandos before once more being released. When the Bakersfield Bears of the PEBA came calling with a minor league contract I almost bit their hand off. Assigned to their A-ball team, the Chula Vista Chargers, I made 65 appearances going 4-4 with a 3.86 ERA. 2016 saw me progress to Double-A before the Bears sent me to London as part of the Bob Adams trade. London were keen on me and I started 2017 in Triple-A Worcester.

This year I played my third year at Triple-A and my first as the T’s full-time closer. I lowered my ERA below 3.00 for the first time in my pro career and recorded a career high 13 saves. Worcester Manager Trent Harmon told me several times that he had had discussions with London GM Nigel Laverick about the fact that I probably deserved a call-up. I made my first ever All-Star appearance in the 2019 Global Baseball Brotherhood All-Star Game and had all my fingers & toes crossed when I was called into the manager’s office after the T’s loss to the division leading Beantown Browns. I knew it wasn’t my performance he wanted to talk about as we never got close enough to call on my services. Could it finally be the call-up in the PEBA roster expansion?

Sat in the office I felt as small as a naughty schoolboy as Mr Harmon stared out of the window without even acknowledging my presence. Eventually he sat down opposite me and smiled. “I’ve just had an e-mail from the league offices. You’ve won the GBB AML Pitcher of the Month Award for August”.  I forced a smile, it was nice to win my first ever award but I had so desperately wanted that call-up. I stammered a lame thank you and got up to go. I had made it to the door when he called me back. “Sorry, forgot to give you these. Your bus tickets for the overnight service to Manchester”. I looked quizzically at him and he Continued “Go to the Wylie Inn and Conference Center and report to Underground manager Sergio Manetti. He’ll sort all your arrangements out. For the next month you’re his responsibility, Good luck & do yourself proud”.

I don’t remember leaving the office but I must have skipped out. I had reached the pinnacle! Some people might think that 24 was young to do so but under GM Laverick there was already three pitchers 24 and under on the 25-man roster. Age is no limiter if you were good enough and I was about to find out if I was good enough.