Last updated: October 25, 2026
Freddy Peralta is a 30-year-old starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was the MVP of the 2026 American League Championship Series. On Monday, Oct. 26, he starts Game 3 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the team he pitched for from 2018 to 2025. The Rays trail the series 2–0.
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Quick facts
Full name: Freddy Peralta
Born: June 4, 1996, in Moca, Dominican Republic
Age: 30
Team: Tampa Bay Rays, No. 51
Position: Starting pitcher (right-handed)
Former teams: Milwaukee Brewers (2018–2025), New York Mets (2026)
Honors: Two-time All-Star (2021, 2025). 2026 ALCS MVP.
2026 regular season: 10–11, 4.42 ERA in 32 starts (Mets and Rays)
Career: 80–53, 3.71 ERA
Nickname: “Fastball Freddy”
Who is Freddy Peralta?
Peralta grew up in Moca, in the Dominican Republic. The Seattle Mariners signed him as a teenager in 2013. In December 2015 they traded him to Milwaukee in a deal for first baseman Adam Lind.
He made his big-league debut on May 13, 2018, at Coors Field in Denver. He struck out 13 batters in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. That set a Brewers record for a pitcher’s first career start.
He became one of the best starters in the National League. He made the All-Star team in 2021. In 2025 he went 17–6 with a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts. He led the NL in wins, made his second All-Star team and finished fifth in the Cy Young vote.
In January 2026 the Brewers traded him to the New York Mets. It went badly. He went 5–9 with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts. At the August trade deadline the Mets sent him to Tampa Bay.
With the Rays, he changed his mechanics with pitching coach Kyle Snyder. He moved to the third-base side of the rubber, dropped his windup and threw more changeups. He went 5–2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts. He was the AL Pitcher of the Month for September.
In the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, he went 2–0 with a 0.75 ERA. The Rays won the series in six games, and he was named MVP.
Career timeline
1996: Born June 4 in Moca, Dominican Republic.
2013: Signs with the Seattle Mariners.
Dec. 9, 2015: Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers.
May 13, 2018: MLB debut. Strikes out 13 in 5 2/3 scoreless innings at Coors Field.
2020: Signs a five-year, $15.5 million extension with Milwaukee.
2021: First All-Star selection.
2025: Goes 17–6 with a 2.70 ERA. Second All-Star selection. Fifth in NL Cy Young voting.
Jan. 21, 2026: Traded to the New York Mets.
August 2026: Traded to the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline.
September 2026: Named AL Pitcher of the Month.
October 2026: Named ALCS MVP.
Oct. 26, 2026: Starts World Series Game 3 against the Brewers.
Notable deals & projects
The extension: In 2020 he signed a five-year, $15.5 million deal with Milwaukee. The Brewers picked up his $8 million club option for 2026.
The Mets trade: Milwaukee sent him and pitcher Tobias Myers to New York for prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat.
The Rays trade: The Mets traded him to Tampa Bay for three prospects: Aidan Smith, Gary Gill Hill and Émilien Pitre.
Free agency: His contract ends after this season. He told the New York Post’s Jon Heyman in the spring that he wants a seven- or eight-year deal.
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What he’s known for
Strikeouts: He has struck out more than 1,300 batters in his career.
His debut: 13 strikeouts in his first big-league start.
The comeback: He went from a 4.99 ERA with the Mets to ALCS MVP in about three months.
His attitude: His old manager, Pat Murphy, calls him “joyful.”
In the news
Oct. 26, 2026: Peralta starts Game 3 of the World Series at Tropicana Field at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. He faces Brewers lefty Robert Gasser. Milwaukee leads the series 2–0.
October 2026: Brewers fans applauded him at American Family Field before Game 1, his first time back in Milwaukee as an opponent.
October 2026: He was named ALCS MVP after the Rays beat the Guardians 4–2. He is the third Ray to win it, after Matt Garza (2008) and Randy Arozarena (2020).
Quotes
“I started losing a little bit of confidence. But then, you know, everything changed.” — on his Mets slump and the trade to Tampa Bay (via MLB.com)
“I love that kid, man -- I just do.” — Brewers manager Pat Murphy (via MLB.com)
“He was our ace. He was our guy.” — Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick (via MLB.com)
Controversies / criticism
The Mets stint: He was the Mets’ Opening Day starter, but he had a 7.34 ERA over a nine-start stretch before the deadline. In one start he gave up a career-high 10 runs to the Phillies. “I don’t feel good,” he said afterward.
The trade debate: The Mets traded him at the deadline. He has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since.
Net worth & money
His known earnings come from his contracts. He signed a five-year, $15.5 million extension in 2020, and his 2026 salary is an $8 million club option. He is set to become a free agent after the World Series. His net worth has not been publicly reported. Treat celebrity net-worth sites as unverified.
FAQ
Who is Freddy Peralta?
He is a starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays and the 2026 ALCS MVP. He pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2018 to 2025.
How old is Freddy Peralta?
He is 30. He was born June 4, 1996.
Where is Freddy Peralta from?
Moca, in the Dominican Republic.
Why did the Brewers trade Freddy Peralta?
Milwaukee traded him to the Mets in January 2026, a year before he could become a free agent. The Brewers got two prospects, Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat.
Why did the Mets trade Freddy Peralta?
He struggled in New York, with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts. The Mets traded him to Tampa Bay at the August deadline for three prospects.
Is Freddy Peralta a free agent?
He will be after the season. His contract ends after 2026.
When does Freddy Peralta pitch next?
He starts World Series Game 3 on Monday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field.
Is Freddy Peralta married?
Yes. His wife is Maritza. They have a daughter.
Further reading
The nine-figure payday that could await Freddy Peralta after World Series — New York Post
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