Grizzlies’ Tyson Perez soaks up All-Star Game fun

Seven years since he last played in an all-star game, Tyson Perez finally was back in the spotlight Wednesday night at the Triple-A All-Star Game in Omaha, Nebraska.

“It was a lot of fun,” said the Fresno Grizzlies reliever, adding that one PCL teammate was soaking up the atmosphere with a GoPro camera strapped to his chest.

“There was just a lot of guys having a lot of fun and for me. I just took everything in and had a good time.”

The last all-star game for the 25-year-old Hanford High grad was the 2008 City/County baseball game.

The Pacific Coast League All-Star selection was a milestone achievement for Perez, who is in his fifth season with the Houston Astros organization.

“It’s crazy because you know, in order to make an all-star game when you’re in pro ball, you kind of got to just start off good,” said Perez, who also starred at Fresno City College. “You have to just put up good numbers, and then that’s how guys make the team.”

Perez’s good numbers: 1-2 record with a 2.43 ERA and five saves in 27 games with 331/3 innings pitched. He also owns the lowest WHIP on the Grizzlies at 0.75.

Though the PCL lost 4-3 to the International League, Perez shined in his one inning of work. He pitched a scoreless fifth inning, striking out two of the four batters he faced.

It was the earliest appearance in a game for Perez in nearly a year, but it allowed him to enjoy the rest of the evening in the dugout, where he joked around with other All-Stars, including El Paso pitcher Cody Decker.

“(Decker) is one of the funniest guys I’ve ever met,” Perez said. “He’s just an outstanding personality and knows how to have fun. … It kind of made my week.”

That kind of camaraderie provided a nice break from the typical baseball routine: “You kind of want to get yourself away from baseball even though you’re at the field, you’re playing a game. (Decker and the rest of the All-Stars) were a lot of fun to be around.”

Perez, was also the only All-Star visibly representing his “hometown” on his chest — a nostalgic reminder of his childhood.

“It actually said Fresno; it doesn’t say Grizzlies,” said Perez, who added that he received a lot of compliments from fans because of it.

“It reminded me of when I was a kid, when you have Hanford or Lemoore, or wherever, planted across your chest,” he said. “It was pretty special to have that in a big all-star game like that when you have guys from New York and Georgia and all over the place.”

Kemp, Appel return from Futures Game

Infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp and right-handed pitcher Mark Appel also returned to Fresno after playing for Team USA in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in Cincinnati on Sunday.

Kemp started at second base and hit leadoff. He was 0 for 1 with two walks and one run scored. Appel pitched a scoreless fifth and allowed one hit.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 10:24 PM with the headline "Grizzlies’ Tyson Perez soaks up All-Star Game fun."