Duke’s Andy Perez signs with Boston Red Sox

Former Duke second baseman Andy Perez has signed a Major League Baseball contract with the Boston Red Sox after a standout career with the Blue Devils.

Perez becomes the fifth Blue Devil to move into professional ranks this year, joining 2015 MLB Draft third round pick Michael Matuella, ninth round selection Sarkis Ohanian, 17th round pick Kenny Koplove and 23rd round selection Andrew Istler.

In addition, Perez joins former Duke teammate Jordan Betts as a member of the Red Sox organization.

“Andy has quietly put together one of the best careers in the history of Duke baseball,” said Pollard. “He’s just a ballplayer and plays the game with a kid’s spirit.”

A two-time All-ACC selection, Perez was the only Blue Devil to play in and start every game this past season.

As a senior, he hit .290 with 14 doubles, three triples and three home runs. In addition, Perez set the program single-season stolen base record (35) and became the third Duke player to swipe 30 or more bases in a single season.

Perez also led all conference second baseman with a .995 fielding percentage, committing just one error in 208 fielding chances.

“The most under-rated part of Andy’s game is his defensive ability,” Pollard added. “To make just one error in 53 ballgames is just unheard of at this level.”

For his career, Perez batted .289 (224-for-776) with 39 doubles, eight triples and nine home runs.

His average increased to .312 in 110 ACC contests and he twice earned all-league honors. In addition, he finished his career ranked third in Duke history with 79 stolen bases.

Football

Duke: Redshirt senior center Matt Skura has been named to the preseason Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List. The award is given annually to the top down lineman in college football.

ECU: Senior linebackers Zeek Bigger and Montese Overton have been named to the 2015 Dick Butkus and Rotary Lombardi Award watch lists, and junior center J.T. Boyd and senior tackle Ike Harris are on the Lombardi watch lists, both organizations announced.

Men’s Basketball

Wake Forest: The team announced its 2015-16 non-conference schedule, which is highlighted by three 2015 NCAA Tournament teams visiting the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 7:36 PM with the headline "Duke’s Andy Perez signs with Boston Red Sox."