Raúl Germán Bautista.- Dominican pitcher Eury Rafael Pérez has shown very positive signs in his recovery process after undergoing the feared Tommy John surgery, a procedure that prematurely ended his 2024 season.
The operation was announced on April 4, generating uncertainty about the immediate future of the talented 22-year-old right-hander. However, Pérez has demonstrated that adversity does not deter his determination.
In his rehabilitation process, the native of Santiago de los Caballeros has shown outstanding physical form. He returned to the mound last week with the Jupiter Hammerheads, Class A affiliate of the Marlins, where he threw 19 pitches (11 strikes) in a scoreless inning.
In his second outing, held on Thursday, he completed 1.2 innings without allowing runs, with 26 pitches, of which 17 were strikes. His average speed was 97.2 mph, which indicates that his arm is in optimal condition.
Pérez made his professional debut in 2021 with the Hammerheads. Since then, his ascent has been meteoric. In the Major Leagues, he has pitched in 19 games with a record of 5-6 and a solid effectiveness of 3.15, accumulating 108 strikeouts in 91.1 innings.
Signed as an international free agent by the Miami Marlins on July 2, 2019, his development was paused in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, in 2021 and 2022, he left a pleasant impression, being named Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the Marlins after his performance in Double A.
His expected MLB debut arrived on May 12, 2023, when he was activated to face the Cincinnati Reds. Despite some ups and downs, he demonstrated his ability as a starter, solidifying himself as one of the young arms with the greatest projection in the Major Leagues.
With his rehabilitation underway and the speed of his pitches back, everything points to Eury Pérez possibly rejoining the active roster of the Marlins sooner than expected. His return is eagerly anticipated by both the organization and the Dominican and Miami fan base.
credits for the images in this post: n.com.do
