Valerie Perez (baseball)

Valerie Perez
New York Heights – No. 27
Shortstop
Born: (1991-08-12) August 12, 1991
Corpus Christi, Texas U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams
Medals
Women's baseball
Representing  United States
Women's Baseball World Cup
Silver medal – second place2024 CanadaTeam

Valerie Perez is an American professional baseball player and manager. She is the head coach of the Firefighters of the Banana Ball Championship League and plays shortstop for the New York Heights of the Women's Pro Baseball League.

Early life and education

Perez was born in Corpus Christi, Texas to Rene and Maria Perez.[1] She attended Calallan High School, where she competed with the softball, basketball, and cross country teams.[2]

Perez attended Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, graduating in 2014.[3] While a student, she played shortstop for the Islanders softball team.[1][4]

After graduating, Perez became a firefighter and paramedic for the Corpus-Christi Fire Department.[5]

Baseball career

Perez was added to the United States women's national baseball team roster in 2023.[3] At the 2024 Women's Baseball World Cup, she won the silver medal with the rest of the national team.[6][7]

In 2024, Perez became head coach of the Firefighters of the Banana Ball Championship League, making her the first woman to manage a Banana Ball team.[8][9][10] When the team expanded the following year, she moved to Savannah to work with the organization full-time.[11][12]

In December 2025, Perez signed with the New York Heights of the Women's Pro Baseball League.[13][14]

Personal life

Perez is LGBTQ.[10] She and her wife, Chelsea, have three children.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Valerie Perez - Softball". Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Athletics. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  2. ↑ Liska, Larissa (January 16, 2026). "Calallen alum Valerie Perez headlines 20th South Texas Winter Baseball and Softball Banquet". KRIS-TV. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Thomasson, Chris (July 13, 2023). "Former Islander Perez welcomed home after earning USA Women's Baseball roster spot". KIII-TV. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  4. ↑ Martinez, Quinton (August 1, 2023). "How Team USA's Valerie Perez juggles career, family to live out baseball dream". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  5. ↑ Gibson, Michael (July 17, 2023). "New Team USA player is battling fires as her day job". KIII-TV. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  6. ↑ "USA Baseball confirms final roster for WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024". World Baseball Softball Confederation. July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ Clair, Michael (August 23, 2024). "USWNT stars Hugo and Lansdell reflect on silver medal at Women's Baseball World Cup". MLB. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ Davis, Sofie (April 24, 2026). "4 women that went from DI softball players to full-time Banana Ball members". NCAA. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ Laible, Anne (June 14, 2024). "Newest frontier for women in baseball: Banana Ball". MLB. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  10. 1 2 Bell, Brian C. (July 29, 2026). "Meet 4 out athletes changing the baseball landscape". OutSports. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  11. ↑ Liska, Larissa (May 6, 2025). "Trading boots for bats: Valerie Perez joins Banana Ball full-time". KRIS-TV. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  12. ↑ Tan, Cecilia (2026). "Women in Banana Ball, 2022–2025". Baseball Research Journal. Phoenix, Arizona: Society for American Baseball Research.
  13. ↑ @wpbl_official; (December 20, 2025). "Val Perez will bring her elite skills to the Big Apple, playing for @wpbl_nyc in the inaugural season of the WPBL". Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Instagram.
  14. ↑ Spears, Dan (July 28, 2026). "WPBL full schedule, team rosters for inaugural season in Springfield". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  15. ↑ Thompson, Abbie (June 30, 2026). "Meet All of the Out Queer Players of the WPBL". GO Magazine. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
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