The Cleveland Guardians are in good hands at the catcher position with Bo Naylor, who will hopefully be the next long-term anchor in a long line of reliable catchers in this franchise’s history even though some have their concerns about his early performance this season. He has big shoes to fill, but he is continuing to grow into them and is hopefully lined up for a big year behind the plate.
One of the slightly forgotten names that came before him is Roberto Perez, who was this team’s Austin Hedges before Austin Hedges came to town. Perez gave the Guardians eight solid years from 2014-2021, and at 37 years old, he has made the decision that he is hanging them up for good.
The Guardians’ X account confirmed the news on Wednesday by wishing Perez well in his retirement. As a crucial part of the 2016 American League championship team, his place in Guardians history will never be forgotten.
“Congrats on a great career, Bebo! Thanks for 2016 and everything you contributed to our team and community,” the Guardians posted on X.
Congrats on a great career, Bebo!
Thanks for 2016 and everything you contributed to our team and community.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/s0BBWdt6Si
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 2, 2026
“While this decision was not an easy one, I feel confident that it is the right time to step away and begin the next chapter of my life,” Perez said on Instagram. “I leave the game with nothing but respect and appreciation for everything it has given me.”
Perez’s best year by far was in 2019, when he hit .239 with a career-high 24 homers and 63 RBIs in 119 games. It was the only year of his career where he was able to mash his way into an everyday role, while he served as a viable backup throughout the rest of his career.
He also won back-to-back Gold Glove awards in 2019 and 2020, but his defining moment was always in 2016. In Game 1 of the World Series, he smacked two homers and drove in four runs to lead Cleveland to a 6-0 victory.
His last appearances in the bigs came in 2023 with the San Francisco Giants after spending 2022 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Those brief stints got him to a ten-year tenure in the majors, which is something he should be proud of forever.
Congrats to Perez on a storied career.
NEXT: Analyst Shares Optimistic Take On Guardians Start
