Angels’ First-Round Pick Is Son of Ex-Reds’ Star Perez

The Angels had more than statistics and scouting trips to go on when they made Florida State first baseman Eduardo Perez their first-round pick in Monday’s amateur free-agent draft.

Bloodlines were another factor in their decision to take Perez as the 17th pick overall. Perez, who hit .377 with 11 home runs, 58 runs batted in and 30 stolen bases last season, is the son of former Cincinnati Red star Tony Perez, and the Angels would be delighted to see him approximate his father’s success.

“He’s a good athlete and he’s got enough arm strength and speed to play the outfield,” said Tom Kotchman, an Angel scouting supervisor who saw the younger Perez play 10 times. “Everybody thought he was the best athlete available. He’s a gentleman we think has major league power, and that’s a tool you can’t teach, like speed. . . .

“He’s been brought up in a baseball family. There’s not too many classier people than his daddy. And from being brought up in a baseball family, he knows the pluses and minuses of the minor leagues.”

Kotchman said the Angels project Perez, 21, as an outfielder and will assign him to one of their Class-A teams when he signs. Kotchman added that he anticipates no problem in signing Perez.

Perez, who hits and throws right-handed, said he and his father were excited over Monday’s news. The younger Perez is no longer bothered by the inevitable comparisons with his father, who hit 379 home runs and drove in 1,652 runs over a 23-year career.

“A lot of people say my running game (is better). I really don’t try to compare myself,” he said. “I just go out and try to have fun, like he did. That’s what we have in common.”

Perez had been regarded among the top five prospects, but his ranking fell as the season progressed. His one-for-eight performance in Florida State’s early elimination from the College World Series also could have affected his status. However, Kotchman said the Angels remained high on Perez. “This is a very strong draft. It’s no knock on the kid to be 17th,” he said.

The Angels didn’t have a first-round pick last year, having forfeited it to Montreal as compensation for signing free-agent Mark Langston.