The first pitch of Martin Perez's night in Frisco on Monday didn't go where he would've liked, as it was deposited into the outfield stands for a leadoff homer.
From that point, Perez looked like the pitcher that was dominating the competition in Arlington early last season before he tailed off over his final few starts and was shut down, eventually needing Tommy John surgery.
Perez is nearing a return to Arlington and could very well be back with the Rangers after another three or four rehab starts, and he took another positive step forward on Monday night in Frisco.
Perez threw 39 pitches over three innings after taking a week off with a sore groin after his previous outing. He reported no soreness in the groin, or the elbow, after Monday's start which saw him touching the mid-90s with his fastball and had his sinker working well.
“The problem I had with my leg is gone and I’m ready to go continue my rehab,” Perez told the Star-Telegram. “My sinker, all my pitches were good down in the zone, and I just kept working. That’s it. I don’t care about the result. I just want to feel good with my arm and my leg, and I think everything was good.”
