Chris Perez was a first-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2006 draft. He spent three seasons at Miami. Perez is seventh in Miami Hurricanes history with 20 career saves. Perez began his Major League career with St. Louis. The Cardinals traded him to Cleveland in 2009 for infielder Mark DeRosa.
Perez was the Indians closer for four seasons beginning in 2010. Perez recorded 123 of his 133 career saves in those seasons. He finished his two all-star seasons with 75 combined saves. Perez pitched one inning in the 2011 game. He gave up a double to former teammate Yadier Molina.
Other than that Perez struck out Reds first baseman Joey Votto. Perez got out of the inning without allowing a run. Perez did not pitch in his second all-star appearance in 2012. He was unable to get in in an 8-0 American League loss to the National League.
#OTD in CollegeBaseball: 1981
— Eric Sorenson (@Stitch_Head) March 10, 2017
Miami @CanesBaseball's All American pitcher Neal Heaton strikes out 23 batters in a 2-0 win over Indiana St pic.twitter.com/MDitvXl0wV
It’s amazing it took until 1990 for a Miami Hurricanes alum to be selected to the All-Star game. Miami had made 11 College World Series Appearances and won two National Championships by then. College Baseball players had not yet become as valued as they would be in future by the time Heaton made the 1990 team.
Heaton would represent the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field in Chicago. In spite of the National League using eight pitchers, Heaton did not get in the game. The National League went on to win the game 2-0 on a rainy night in Chicago.