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Odalis Perez Passes Away

By Darragh McDonald | March 10, 2022 at 8:09pm CDT

Former big league lefty Odalis Perez has tragically passed away, reports Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital. (On Twitter) Gomez relays that the former member of the Braves, Dodgers, Royals and Nationals “suffered a blow to the head after falling from a ladder.” He was 44 years old.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Perez began his MLB career with the Braves in September of 1998, just a few months after his 21st birthday. He appeared in ten games out of the bullpen, throwing 10 2/3 innings with an ERA of 4.22. He followed that up with a 1999 season that saw him make 18 appearances, 17 of those being starts, throwing 93 innings with an even 6.00 ERA. After missing the entirety of the 2000 campaign due to injury, he bounced back in 2001 and logged 95 1/3 innings with an ERA of 4.91.

Prior to the 2002 campaign, Perez and two other Braves were part of a huge trade, going to the Dodgers in the deal that sent Gary Sheffield to Atlanta. That year, Perez had the best season of his career, throwing 222 1/3 innings over 32 starts with an ERA of 3.00. He racked up 155 strikeouts and finished the season with a record of 15-10. He was selected to the National League All-Star team that year.

Perez went on to be a mainstay of the Dodgers’ rotation for another three and a half seasons before being dealt to the Royals in July of 2006. He and two other Dodgers were traded to Kansas City for Elmer Dessens. He pitched out of the Royals’ rotation for the remainder of that season as well as the 2007 campaign.

In 2008, he signed a minor league deal with the Nationals, eventually having his contract selected and making the Opening Day start for the club. He allowed a fourth-inning home run to Chipper Jones, which was the first long ball in the history of Nationals Park. That season would ultimately prove to be his last MLB action. All told, he finished his career having played in 252 games, making 221 starts, throwing 1,335 innings with an ERA of 4.46. He racked up 920 strikeouts, four complete games and two shutouts.

We at MLB Trade Rumors offer condolences to the Perez family, as well as his many friends, fans and loved ones.

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Atlanta Braves Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Dodgers Washington Nationals Odalis Perez

Hall: D-Backs Continuing To Target Offense, Bullpen Help
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Free Agent Notes: Rodon, Kikuchi, Correa, Soler
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39 Comments

  1. Cohens_Wallet

    3 years ago

    R.I.P

    8
    Reply
  2. deweybelongsinthehall

    3 years ago

    So sad. So young. Reminds of when I heard about the Bo Diaz tragedy years ago. RIP.

    8
    Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      3 years ago

      Wow you’re right, very reminiscent of Diaz’s equally unfortunate passing. R.I.P. to the Perez family and friends.

      Reply
      • yankeemanuno23

        3 years ago

        Baudilio Diaz died on his roof top while attempting to fix a huge Sat tv antenna in Caracas. I lived near him and my kid played 1 season with his in little league there. We must cherish each day – . Both sad cases.

        Reply
  3. Misfit0620

    3 years ago

    What! I’m 36 and been a Dodger fan my whole life. So this one hurts. Odalis was always a cool dude to me..rest easy sir

    10
    Reply
    • 14thor

      3 years ago

      Misfit…August 2002 Odalis homered and threw 8 scoreless.

      2
      Reply
      • Ron Tingley

        3 years ago

        That game and your shout out are both equally as impressive…

        1
        Reply
  4. juanc-2

    3 years ago

    Rest In Peace. Taken far too young.

    1
    Reply
  5. all in the suit that you wear

    3 years ago

    RIP

    1
    Reply
  6. Edp007

    3 years ago

    RIP

    1
    Reply
  7. Braves Butt-Head

    3 years ago

    I remember when he started with the Braves

    Reply
  8. rememberthecoop

    3 years ago

    condolences.

    1
    Reply
  9. Max Powers

    3 years ago

    Awful. Sorry to hear. RIP

    1
    Reply
  10. YankeesBleacherCreature

    3 years ago

    I remember him. Such tragedy. RIP Odalis.

    1
    Reply
  11. afsooner02

    3 years ago

    Life isn’t fair sometimes…..rip

    Reply
  12. Rsox

    3 years ago

    All of these latin players dying suddenly in their mid-40’s lately is crazy.

    I remember Perez was a no-decision machine in 2004; 31 starts, 18 ND’s (ERA was 3.25, so run support from some really lousy Dodgers lineups must have been the reason).

    R.I.P Odalis

    2
    Reply
  13. anthonyd4412

    3 years ago

    Man, sorry to hear

    Reply
  14. neurogame

    3 years ago

    I remember that as a Dodger, he had at least two starts that were trending towards either a no-hitter or perfect game but the defense & offense let him down. There was a period during his tenure where the offense was abysmal and couldn’t support their starting pitchers..

    As a kid, I always looked forward to Odalis starts. He always seemed to give it his all.

    2
    Reply
  15. Captain Judge99

    3 years ago

    I just wanted to send my condolences to Odalis and to the entire Perez family. So sad, he was so young. I will never forget his blazing fastball and his 12-6 curveball and power sinker. What a great arm he had.

    1
    Reply
  16. HalosHeavenJJ

    3 years ago

    Wow. That’s sad.

    RIP.

    1
    Reply
  17. richardc

    3 years ago

    Watching him as a Braves prospect and making his debut Odalis Perez was always humbly passionate about the game.

    He never truly broke out until he was traded to the Dodgers for Sheffield, but the Didgers and their fans got a good one in Odalis Perez…

    2
    Reply
  18. DarrenDreifortsContract

    3 years ago

    2002 is one of my favorite seasons as a Dodgers fan. I was always a big fan of his and remember him 20 years later. I even named my fantasy baseball team last season “Odalis Perez 2002”

    RIP to a legend!!!!!!!!!

    1
    Reply
  19. mfm4200

    3 years ago

    a reminder:

    always have someone holding a ladder for you.

    always have a helmet on when climbing a ladder.

    and if you do fall off one backwards, do not stick your hand out to try and break the fall.

    tuck your chin inwards, pull your neck up and take the fall on your lower back and bottom.

    that will hurt, but your head won’t take the first bump and the force of the fall won’t be centered on such a small part of the body, but a larger area.

    my uncle didn’t bother with a helmet, ended up having a tree branch smack him hard enough in the head he has 2 metal plates in his skull.

    at least 8 people i know have fallen off ladders. my mom was the only one who didn’t put her arm out, and as such, is the only one who didn’t end up breaking anything (who knew watching tons of pro wrestlers fall off stuff like that would end up helping her out?).

    rip odalis.

    3
    Reply
  20. Dorothy_Mantooth

    3 years ago

    What a terrible tragedy. He was in the prime of his life; he had a nice nest egg to live off of and provide his family with all they needed. Such a shame to see him die from such a common accident. It just goes to show you that you never know when your time is up…live life to its fullest. RIP Mr. Perez.

    1
    Reply
  21. Ducky Buckin Fent

    3 years ago

    Aww crap, what terrible news.

    Until humans are no longer afraid of heights, I will have a pretty good income. Falling is scary stuff though. One of the guys that taught me to build fell from a relatively short distance (21′) & died years ago. Gravity, man.

    Of course: prayers/positive thoughts for the family & friends of Odalis Perez.

    3
    Reply
    • RobM

      3 years ago

      Probably best to hire a pro like you and your team when working at heights. The danger is there for both, but you know how to handle it best because you do it daily.

      1
      Reply
      • Ducky Buckin Fent

        3 years ago

        Earlier this week, I was actually up on former Vikings GM Rick Spielman’s roof. Turns out he’s – ya know – putting his house on the market & leaving town.

        Now he struck me as a pretty capable dude.
        Yet there is no shame in getting some help with things you’re not experienced at. (Like climbing around a snow covered roof – for example.)

        So, yeah. Not to sound like a commercial but get a pro. Even guys that have spent decades working off the ground come down the fast way once or twice in their careers. Goes with the territory.
        God bless all the blue collar acrobats, man.

        Reply
  22. kingbum

    3 years ago

    Wow, just another reminder we aren’t promised tomorrow. RIP

    Reply
  23. MLB Top 100 Commenter

    3 years ago

    Great pitcher, my condolences to his family, friends and former teammates.

    Reply
  24. Fred McGriff

    3 years ago

    Excellent pitcher. Very sad news indeed.

    Ladders are so dangerous, but a lot of people never give the danger a second thought.

    Reply
    • Deadguy

      3 years ago

      Osha 10

      Reply
  25. rudyrudnick

    3 years ago

    i remember him so well so sorry to hear so young

    Reply
  26. ruckus727

    3 years ago

    Tragedy. RIP Odalis. Prayers for you and your family.

    Reply
  27. Deadguy

    3 years ago

    Our boy Odalis Perez just made his way onto 1,000 ways to die…? Tragic young deaths are always really hard on the family. Thoughts and prayers

    Reply
  28. RoastGobot

    3 years ago

    Stay off roofs and ladders unless it’s your job

    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      3 years ago

      Cold. Very cold.

      Reply
  29. joeflaccosunibrow 2

    3 years ago

    This sounds fishy. I wonder who his beneficiary was?

    Reply
  30. mgrap84

    3 years ago

    Damn so sad. R. I. P.

    Reply
  31. HardensBeardHasFleas

    3 years ago

    RIP ody his dad tony was a hell of slugger for the big red machine. Thanks for the memorys

    Reply

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