Perez initially was diagnosed with mild elbow inflammation, with surgery not being recommended at that point. He began playing catch shortly after that diagnosis, before elbow discomfort prompted a second visit to Meister.
“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster,” Bendix said. “Initially having the frustration of the elbow soreness and followed by the positive outlook on you don’t need surgery right now. There was an understanding that the ligament was not in great shape and essentially, you can pitch with it until you can’t, and nobody knows when that’s going to be. You have to try and see when the symptoms return. And unfortunately, that happened now. Better now than in the middle of the season.”
Perez, who turns 21 on April 15, made his major league debut in 2023 and finished 5-6 with a 3.15 ERA in 19 starts. He struck out 108 batters and walked 31 in 91⅓ innings before his season was cut short by left SI joint inflammation.
Perez’s injury adds to an already depleted rotation for the Marlins.
Their ace Sandy Alcantara remains sidelined for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow in October. Right-hander Edward Cabrera is on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement but began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on March 31. Left-hander Braxton Garrett is also sidelined with a left shoulder impingement.
Miami is off to its worst start to a season in franchise history, opening the 2024 campaign on a seven-game winless streak after making the playoffs last season.
Field Level Media and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
