Pérez's return could come sooner than expected

MIAMI -- Could Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez make his season debut as soon as early June?

Speaking to the media on Friday for the first time since beginning his rehab assignment, Pérez laid out a tentative course of action as he works back from April 2024 Tommy John surgery.

“Specific date to come back, I don't have it, but the plan is to get at least eight outings out there in the Minor League level: three [at Single-A Jupiter], and then I will go to [Triple-A] Jacksonville after that,” Pérez said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr.

The 22-year-old Pérez returned to the mound for the first time last Saturday, throwing 19 pitches (11 strikes) in a scoreless inning for the Hammerheads. He made his second start on Thursday, tossing 26 pitches (17 strikes) across 1 2/3 scoreless frames.

According to Pérez, he will stick to a typical starter’s routine of pitching every five days with a bullpen in between -- like this upcoming Sunday’s “pitch design” session. If that’s the case, his next outing would come at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday against the Palm Beach Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

After that, Pérez would transfer to the Jumbo Shrimp. Barring any setbacks -- or the organization wanting to be cautious -- his Triple-A start dates could be as follows:

May 11
May 16
May 21
May 27
June 1

When Spring Training began, the Marlins originally projected Pérez to return around the All-Star break, which fell in line with the general timeline for Tommy John recovery (12-18 months).

“I truly don't know if I'm ahead of schedule,” Pérez said. “Most important part is that my arm and I [are] feeling healthy overall. But I don't know what to say. I don't know if I'm actually ahead of schedule.”

It’s important to note that pitchers are generally allowed a maximum of 30 days to complete rehab assignments, but under the current collective bargaining agreement, there’s an exception for pitchers returning from Tommy John to allow them to get “up to three consecutive 10-day extensions of his rehabilitation assignment, with the approval of the Commissioner’s Office and the [MLB Players] Association.”

“I think it'll be similar to how guys were in Spring Training, where you kind of start off a little bit lower [pitch-count wise],” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “In his case, realizing that we do have the benefit of time and we want to do right by that, where we give him a really solid foundation and base from which to continue to build on each outing. You get up around 30 [pitches] in the second one, now you look to increase the innings a little bit in turn with adding some pitch count to that.

“And so we still feel like time is on our side and we're not going to be in a rush for this. We want this to be done right and for him to be in a real good spot when he does come back here. So we'll just kind of incrementally keep building that as he goes.”

Aside from proving his health and building back up, Pérez is working on a sweeper and a sinker to add to his arsenal. During his rookie season in 2023, he predominantly turned to a four-seamer (45.4%) and a slider (30.8%), with an occasional curveball (14%) and changeup (9.8%).

“That day to me was very, very incredible,” Pérez said of his first rehab start, “because, like you said, even though it's a Minor League game, it's actually a baseball game, you know? I'm out there, I'm competing, I'm back on the mound, I'm doing what I love to do, and it was very exciting for me just to be back there competing.”

Regardless of when Pérez returns, Miami will gladly welcome him back. The club holds the highest starter’s ERA (6.69) in the Majors after Friday night's 6-1 loss to the Athletics at loanDepot park. Two years ago, Pérez lived up to his top prospect status by posting a 149 ERA+ and 1.128 WHIP in 19 starts.

In the meantime, the Marlins will look forward to another reinforcement: Left-hander Ryan Weathers (left flexor muscle strain) made his second rehab start, this time with Triple-A Jacksonville, on Friday night. He allowed two runs, struck out four and walked four over 2 2/3 innings while throwing 62 pitches (32 strikes).