Carlos Perez gave the Angels plenty of reason to confront struggling catcher Chris Iannetta’s lingering offensive problems.
The career minor leaguer’s .361 average this season in Triple-A warranted the first call-up to the major leagues of his seven-year career on Monday. The move was clearly in response to the dismal .098/.200/.115 slash line Iannetta carried into the Angels’ nine-game homestand, not to mention the Angels’ .224 team batting average that ranks 28th in baseball.

Iannetta started Monday’s series opener against the Seattle Mariners, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia made clear Perez will start a game in the near future.

“Carlos, it’s his time to have an opportunity to come up here and see how he’ll do,” Scioscia said. “He will get opportunities to play. How much is definitely going to depend on how well he plays, but he’s ready for the challenge.”

Perez and pitcher Nick Tropeano were acquired from Houston in a November trade that sent 2006 first-round draft pick Hank Conger to the Astros. Iannetta’s backup, Drew Butera, was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Perez. Butera was hitting .190 in 21 at-bats.

“This isn’t about as much what Drew was or wasn’t doing,” Scioscia said. “It’s really just about what Carlos was doing. He’s ready…and we thought we had to get him here and get him started.”

Perez, 24, has shown plenty of offensive promise, something the Angels have been lacking at the catcher position for a number of years. Iannetta is a career .233 hitter whose .252 average last season was his highest in three years with the Angels.
Angels’ catchers rank last in the majors with a .340 OPS and Iannetta has no home runs and 22 strikeouts in 61 at-bats. Perez has two home runs, eight doubles and 12 RBIs with a .973 OPS in 72 at-bats in Triple-A this season.