Ominous Report on Marlins Young Ace Suffering from Elbow Problem

This is not what you want to hear about your 20-year-old ace, expected to hold down one of the top two spots in your starting rotation: Florida Marlins super sophomore Eury Perez will be seeing a Tommy John specialist after complaining of "elbow pain" after his last exhibition start. 

Sources: Eury Perez is slated to visit noted surgeon Keith Meister in Texas in coming days https://t.co/NDTFVjJfUY

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 16, 2024

MLB Insider Jon Heyman says his sources tell him that Pérez will be visiting a noted surgeon in Texas this coming week after experiencing elbow soreness. This is a far different scenario than when Perez exited his last spring start on Wednesday with what was being called "discomfort from his broken nail on his right middle finger."

Nail discomfort = no big deal.

Elbow soreness = potentially a bigger deal.

Visiting a noted Tommy John surgeon? = Now we've got a really big problem.

Meister is called the North Texas Maestro of Tommy John surgery. In fact, he revolutionized the procedure.

Perez threw just 91.1 innings for the Fish in his rookie season last year in 19 starts. But the numbers he posted were impressive: a 3.15 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP along with 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings. He finished No. 7 in NL Rookie of the Year balloting, but he essentially finished at least No. 2 in the Marlins' rotation plans for 2024. That might have to change now.

Perez was the No. 1 prospect in the Marlins' system heading into last season, flashing his incredible body control and strikeout ability for a 6'9" freak of nature. He jumped right from Double-A to the majors in 2023, and never looked back. The Fish were wary of his innings jump, as, combined with the 36 innings he tossed in the minors, his 127 innings last year were 50 more than he thrown in his only two minor league seasons. 

We should learn this coming week if that innings jump has come back to him and the Fish. 

Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports