Martin Perez opts for Tommy John surgery

While writers continue to look into the cause of the Tommy John surgery “epidemic” in 2014, we just keep losing quality young pitchers for the season due to elbow injuries.

Martin Perez of the Texas Rangers is the latest name to be added to the list. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News has an update on the situation, which was first reported by Lavinotinto.com:

"Citing a desire to come back as quickly and as decisively as possible, Texas Rangers left-hander Martin Perez said Thursday that he plans to have Tommy John surgery rather than take a more conservative route for the partial tear in his elbow ligament.Perez and his agent will meet with Rangers personnel on Friday to discuss all options, but Perez said he believes that surgery will ensure his return on a more permanent basis.”"

Because the MRI showed only partial damage to Perez’s UCL, it was initially believed that he might not require season-ending surgery. Now it sounds like Perez will just get this taken care of now rather than missing time to rest it, only to end up tearing the ligament and having Tommy John surgery anyway.

Perez was off to a solid start in 2014: 4-3 with a 4.38 ERA, the 23-year-old boasted two complete game shutouts already this season. Besides adding to the growing list of young pitchers out for the season, this is a huge blow to the Rangers as it comes during the same week that Matt Harrison was forced to leave a start with a back injury.