[3] Pérez's brother, Victor, graduated from Xavier University and played one year in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system.

[6] That year, the Seminoles were also in the College World Series, and Pérez was a first-round draft pick (17th overall) of the California Angels.

In 1993 he played most of the year with the Class AAA Vancouver Canadians of the Pacific Coast League, and in July he was called up to the parent club.

Perez had swung at a slider that was over a foot and a half off the plate to honor a childhood pact with his brother that if either of them made it to the major leagues they agreed to swing at the first pitch.

In the eighth inning, Pérez hit his first home run, a 3-run shot off Kevin Campbell, scoring teammates Tim Salmon and Chili Davis.

At age 37, playing for the Seattle Mariners in a 6–5 loss to the Texas Rangers, he pinch hit for Ben Broussard and struck out against C. J.

[21] In late 2007, three months after the Puerto Rican winter baseball league was cancelled after 69 seasons, Pérez returned to Puerto Rico and announced his founding of the Winter Training Program (WTP) for both professional and amateur players in an effort to return pro baseball back to the island.

The program was sponsored by the government municipality of San Juan, Major League Baseball, and private donors.

While serving as a special assistant to the baseball operations department of the Cleveland Indians, on June 8, 2011, Pérez was named hitting coach of the Miami Marlins, replacing John Mallee, a position he held until manager Ozzie Guillén and most of his staff were let go shortly after the 2012 season.

He managed the team representing Colombia in the World Baseball Classic Qualifying Round in 2013, finishing with a 1–2 record.

For 2014, he was named the Astros first base coach, but he resigned that position in early January 2014 to spend more time with family.

In 2016, Pérez joined SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio hosting The Leadoff Spot with Steve Phillips Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays.

[26] On September 29, 2020, Pérez alongside Karl Ravech and Tim Kurkjian[27] called Game 1 of the American League wild card playoff series between the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins.