ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Texas Rangers pitcher Martin Perez said Saturday he will have season-ending reconstructive elbow surgery.
The second-year lefthander was diagnosed with a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow days after leaving a start May 10 with pain in the joint.
“I made the decision because I’m not 100 percent good,” said Perez, who will have surgery Monday. “I’m young, I’ll just go out for a year and come back next year.
Perez chose the operation instead of trying to rehabilitate.
“I’m going to get the surgery because it’s better for me and better for the team,” he said. “I’ve got four more years with this organization. I want to be strong.”
The 23-year-old Perez becomes the latest pitcher to need the operation known as Tommy John surgery. Typical recovery time is 12-18 months.
National League Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez had the surgery Friday.
Perez is 4-3 with a 4.38 earned run average. He threw consecutive shutouts on April 18 and 23, throwing 109 pitches in each start, to improve to 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA. In three starts afterward, he went 0-3 and allowed 19 earned runs in 13 1-3 innings. He pitched only 3 2-3 innings in his final start before coming out with pain.
The Rangers’ rookie of the year last season, Perez became a permanent member of the starting rotation in late June and went 10-6 in 20 starts a 3.62 ERA.
Perez is Texas’ second starter to be lost for the season during the past week. Left-hander Matt Harrison left a start on Tuesday after only 1 2-3 innings and was diagnosed with a back condition that could end his career.