Neifi Pérez

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**Neifi Pérez**
Major League Baseball debut
Detroit Tigers — No. 8
Infielder
Bats: Both	Throws: Right
August 31, 1996 for the Colorado Rockies
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
Batting average	.268
Runs batted in	483
Home runs	63
Former teams
Colorado Rockies (1996–2001) Kansas City Royals (2001-2002) San Francisco Giants (2003-2004) Chicago Cubs (2004-2006) Detroit Tigers (2006-)

Neifi Neftali Pérez (born June 2, 1973 in Villa Mella, Dominican Republic) is a Major League baseball player. As of September 2006, Pérez plays for the Detroit Tigers. He has played with the Colorado Rockies (1996-part of 2001), Kansas City Royals (part of 2001-2002), San Francisco Giants (2003-part of 2004), and the Chicago Cubs (part of 2004-part of 2006). Pérez is good friends with former Colorado Rockies teammate Todd Helton. On August 20, 2006, Pérez was traded from the Cubs to the Tigers in exchange for minor-league catcher Chris Robinson. The Tigers were seeking a replacement for their injured second baseman, Placido Polanco.

In late 2004, after being signed to a minor-league contract by the Cubs (after he was released by the San Francisco Giants), Pérez was called up and September, and became a much needed spark plug in the lineup, going 6 for 6 in his first 6 at-bats as a Cub.

In 2005, he walked 3.1% of the time, the worst rate in the National League.[1]

Pérez is often considered to be excellent defensive shortstop, and his range factors bear out that he has been above average for most of his career. He has played second second and third as well and his range factors at those positions indicate an average performance at those positions. He won a Gold Glove at shortstop in 2000 while playing for the Colorado Rockies. Pérez is a switch hitter, and is better from the right side of the plate. Pérez is also known for his bunting and often attempts to bunt for base hits.

Pérez's offense has attracted serious criticism, and has even led to him being the namesake of the Neifi Index. Despite a strong debut with the Cubs in 2004 and a strong start in 2005 which led to Dusty Baker deciding to make Pérez the everyday shortstop, Pérez' offensive numbers slowly descended closer to his career numbers. His lack of patience and refusal to take walks at the plate is also a weakness in his offensive game. He ended 2005 with a below-average .681 OPS, almost identical to his career average. Statistically, his value comes through his defense and the depth he can add to a lineup. His offensive skills tend to be exposed over the course of a season as his numbers fall below those of others at his position.

Pérez occupied a special spot in Cubs' history long before he joined the team. In 1998, the Cubs were locked in a Wild Card race with San Francisco. After the Cubs lost their final regular season game at Houston, the Giants were poised to close out the Colorado Rockies to clinch the Wild Card spot. However, Pérez launched a game-winning tie-breaking homer off Giants' closer Robb Nen to force a tie between the Cubs and Giants. The home run came less than 2 minutes after the Cubs made the final out in Houston. The next day at Wrigley Field, Cubs defeated the Giants, managed by Baker, to advance to the playoffs.

Pérez signed a 2-year contract with the Cubs on November 8, 2005 for $2.5 million per season, however, was traded to the Detroit Tigers on August 20, 2006 for a minor league player. "He's a legitimate everyday player and an outstanding utility player," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. However, he hasn't shown it since joining the Tigers, hitting .179 in 39 games.

Pérez has a brother, Rubby Perez, who is a popular singer in the Dominican Republic.