Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo has one of the team’s most magnetic personalities. With a contagious smile, the 6-foot-3 Dominican Republic-born player keeps the clubhouse loose and lively.
During pre‑game warmups at Chase Field, Perdomo, 26, jumps from teammate to teammate, chatting and joking with them between the grounders that coach Dave McKay sends their way.
“This is my second home,” he said. Fans love him right back. They watched him and fellow infielder Ildemaro Vargas laugh their way through a post-game D-backs TV interview, during which Perdomo served as the Venezuelan’s translator.
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With a bat resting on his shoulder in an unusually quiet clubhouse, the talk turns serious as he speaks about the mutual admiration for his country, fans and teammates.
That goes for umpires, too. In the Dominican Republic and at the World Baseball Classic, Perdomo struck out in the bottom of the ninth, giving the USA the title. The D-back yelled and then squatted in response to the controversial call. When he and the umpire met afterward for the first time, Perdomo greeted him with a quick but warm one-armed hug.
Diamondbacks president and chief executive officer Derrick Hall is just as high on Perdomo as anyone in the organization. Hall said Perdomo’s easygoing personality is real, but what truly sets him apart is his work ethic. Perdomo is out there early, putting in extra reps and grinding “each and every day,” Hall said.
“He also has a boyish smile. He’s always in a good mood, and he really has become the leader in the clubhouse.
“I think everyone sets their tone based on what he’s doing. He’s always been really good about taking it upon himself to calm the pitchers down during intense moments — whether it’s a starter or a reliever.”
“He always takes time to sign autographs and be with the fans,” he added. “I appreciate that, and he knows I do.”
Perdomo was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where his father, a minor-league player, taught him baseball. Perdomo’s professional career began in 2016, when the Diamondbacks signed him as an international free agent in his mid-teens. Thanks to his defensive skills, he quickly made his way through the minor leagues.
On Nov. 20, 2020, the Diamondbacks added Perdomo to its 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. The following April, Perdomo was promoted to the major leagues to fill in for the injured Nick Ahmed.
When he first walked into a big‑league clubhouse and saw his name next to those of Ketel Marte, David Peralta, Eduardo Escobar, Madison Bumgarner and Luke Weaver, he felt awe and pride.
“I [had] never been in a clubhouse like that before,” he said. “For me, being part of this great crew … I was glad and proud.”
In 2023, he helped the D-backs battle their way to the World Series. His skills earned the left-hander a spot on the All-Star roster that year.
Off the field, he gravitates toward the same kind of closeness. His favorite spot in the Valley is a restaurant at the Scottsdale Quarter — formerly Etta, now The GuestHouse — run by two friends he calls brothers. “They’re very close to me… that’s the place I go every time,” he said. “Being there with those guys… I feel safe there.”
He describes the menu as great, but that feeling goes beyond taste. It’s about belonging. It’s about having a place where he can show up as “Geraldo,” not just the “shortstop.”
The GuestHouse general manager, Eddie Nor, lights up when he speaks about “the nicest man ever,” noting that Perdomo thanks every staff member and treats the restaurant like his second home.
Nor said Perdomo is a rare type of regular who doesn’t just dine at The GuestHouse, he elevates it. The menu is modern American with range: a lighter signature chicken parm, a spicy rigatoni that holds its own in a crowded Scottsdale field, and theatrical cocktails topped with smoke or cotton candy “pink clouds.”
But Nor returns to this ethos: a restaurant should feel welcoming, not intimidating. That, he added, keeps “Domo” coming back.
Whether he’s “Geraldo Perdomo of the D-backs,” “Geraldo,” “Gerry” or “Domo,” the ballplayer strives to be bring kindness and love in every corner of the clubhouse — and even the restaurant.
“That’s the type of person I am,” he said. “I’m always happy. I try to be accountable with my teammates, try to have their back every single time I can — and just be the goofy guy here.”
