KANSAS CITY, Kan. – In the first move of the Joe Calfapietra era, the Kansas City T-Bones announced they have acquired starting pitcher Gabe Perez from Laredo in exchange for relief pitcher Tyler Ybarra.

Perez, 25 (06-03-91), is a 6-foot and 190-pound right hander from Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic. Perez went 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) for Laredo in 2016. He struck out 38 and walked 10 in 32 innings. Perez faced the T-Bones twice in ’16 — both at CommunityAmerica Ballpark — allowing five hits and striking out nine of the 25 batters he faced in 6 innings, but he did not receive a decision in either appearance.

Perez pitched for Calfapietra, Kansas City’s new manager, in 2015 at New Jersey of the Can-Am League. He went 8-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 18 games (all starts). That season Perez had several single-season career highs, including strikeouts (108) and innings pitched (108 2/3). 

“We’re excited to have Gabe in the fold,” Calfapietra said. “I’m looking forward to managing him again. His fastball can get in the low 90s, he has a strikeout slider and he has good command. He’s capable of coming in and putting a successful season together.”

Perez, who started his career in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s system in 2009, is 50-19 with a 3.10 ERA in 98 career games (95 starts). He’s thrown 543 innings, and has 520 strikeouts and 192 walks.

Ybarra, who battled injuries in 2016, went 1-0 with one save and a 2.53 ERA coming out of the bullpen for Kansas City. In 10 2/3 innings he gave up 10 hits, walked eight and struck out 12.

The T-Bones open the 2017 regular season at home on May 19 against Lincoln.