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WCC CHAMPIONS!
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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
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