(WEST PALM BEACH, Fl) - Luis Perales made his Washington pitching debut against the Mets yesterday and left a strong first impression. The 22‑year‑old right-hander threw 24 pitches over one shutout inning, showcasing his power repertoire. Perales mixed eight four‑seam fastballs, 12 sliders, and four cutters, attacking hitters aggressively and confidently.
Perales was acquired in December when Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo and Assistant GM Paul Toboni traded highly regarded left-handed pitcher Jake Bennett, who spent last season in Harrisburg, to the Boston Red Sox. Toboni, who worked in Boston’s front office, was already familiar with Perales and clearly believes in his upside as a potential future starter in Washington’s rotation.
A power pitcher by profile, Perales underwent full UCL reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) in June 2024. He returned late last season, pitching just two innings in September before being sent to the Arizona Fall League. While his ERA in Arizona was elevated across six starts, his velocity steadily returned, and he reached triple digits frequently, throwing 43 fastballs at 100 mph or higher. With only 2.1 career innings at the Triple‑A level, Perales is expected to be assigned to Rochester for further development.
Perales currently features a four‑pitch mix and is working to add a consistent changeup. His four‑seam fastball is considered “elite” by scouts, averaging 99 mph with exceptional riding life. Thanks to high spin, the pitch generates 17 to 20 inches of vertical carry and plays particularly well at the top of the strike zone.
His primary secondary pitch is a cutter that sits between 88 and 94 mph with tight, late horizontal movement. Scouts have long viewed it as his best complementary offering. Perales also throws a splitter that mirrors his four‑seam fastball out of the hand before tumbling sharply downward, a pitch he likes to deploy against left-handed hitters. The pitch he leaned on most against the Mets was his mid‑80s slider, which resembles a hard curveball and is effective at inducing chases outside the strike zone.
Scouts project Perales as a potential mid‑rotation starter if he can refine his command and repeat his delivery. If starting does not work out, his elite velocity and swing‑and‑miss slider could make him a dominant late‑inning reliever. Toboni’s commitment to developing homegrown pitching talent is notable, particularly with the recent hiring of Rochester pitching coach Fernando Nieve and assistant pitching coach Sam Narron, signaling a stronger organizational focus on player development.
With just 2.1 innings pitched at Triple‑A, Perales stands to benefit significantly from this renewed developmental emphasis. Improving command through more consistent mechanics and adding a reliable changeup will be key. If those pieces come together, Luis Perales has the ceiling to become a high-impact starter in Washington. At worst, scouts believe his power fastball‑slider combination could make him a formidable late‑inning bullpen weapon.