
Leatherneck spark plug with pop, polish, and postseason upside
In the 2025 season, Western Illinois infielder Kenneth Perez emerged as a key freshman bat, hitting .268 with 48 hits, 29 runs, 24 RBI, 4 home runs, and 17 walks, while also earning OVC All-Freshman Team recognition. He flashed real big-game juice too, including a four-RBI grand slam in a win at UT Martin and a lead-off homer at Bradley, which says the bat plays under pressure. The takeaway: he looks like a competitive, left-side-infield-caliber run producer with enough contact and on-base feel to fit a lot of lineups.


