Name: Nelson A. Perez

Organization:  Cleveland Indians

Title: Major League Strength and Conditioning Assistant and Latin America Coordinator

Years working in professional baseball S&C:  Nine seasons, including two seasons in Minor League Baseball (2007 Lake County Captains and 2008 Kinston Indians).One season (2009) as a strength coach in the Indians’ Summer League in Arizona.

Years in S&C total: Eleven seasons, starting at the Tiburones Double AA Team in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico as an athletic trainer and strength& conditioning coach (2004-2006).

Work experience, grad assistant, etc. outside of professional baseball:  Two years (2005-2006) as an athletic trainer at Mayaguez Physical Therapy Center. One year as a professor for the Personal Training Program in POPAC Paramedical College, Mayaguez Puerto Rico (2006).

Education (University, degrees and years): University of Puerto Rico Ponce Campus, BS Athletic Training (2004)

Certifications: RSCC, CSCS

Sports experience:  Played three years of high school varsity basketball and was a two-time collegiate letterman in track and field and two-time bronze medalist on the hammer throw.

Family: Married for 10 years to Nilmaris Bonet. We have two sons; 6 year old Nelson, who plays basketball, baseball, soccer, Taekwondo and track and field, and 3 year old Tian, a beginning soccer player.

Home: Originally from Aguada, PR. Now resides in North Ridgeville, Ohio year around. The position requires a lot of time at the ballpark and traveling, but working near my family during the season is a blessing, a great support and an opportunity to attend some of my children’s school and sports activities and achievements.

Brief outline of your philosophy of S&C in MLB: As a strength coach, I want each player to be able to reach his genetic potential, considering his individual capacity and ability. Through proper individual training a player can reach an optimum level of physical conditioning which can lead to improved performance and a lower risk of injury.

Hobbies: My wife and I are from Puerto Rico, so we like to travel at least once a year to see our family and go the beach.  I enjoy playing softball and basketball and being home, grilling and playing outside with my family.

Other items that you would like to be mentioned: For five consecutive off seasons (four of them in Dominican Republic and one in Florida) I have been able to work with the Latin American players in the Indians’ organization and help prepare them for spring training and the next season. The organization has been thoughtful to recognize my effort, work and sacrifice, for being away from my family for those months.

I started my career in Puerto Rico as an athletic trainer.  My career as a strength coach with the Indians’ organization started after I did an internship at the Cleveland Indians’ Spring Training Facility in Winter Haven, Florida in 2006. I believe that in order to succeed in this career you need at least three things: 1) be passionate about strength and conditioning; 2) love baseball; and 3) have a wonderful family that supports you always.