Franklin Perez Suffers Another Setback

Righthander Franklin Perez’s injury issues continue.

The Tigers’ No. 3 prospect is expected to miss four to six weeks with right shoulder tendinitis, the team announced on March 29.

Perez felt shoulder discomfort after throwing two innings in the team’s inaugural Future Stars game on March 25. The 6-foot-3 Venezuelan righty had recovered from a shoulder trapezius spasm, which knocked him out of action early in spring.

Now, that blip in the radar appears to be something more serious.

Perez was scheduled to pitch an additional inning in the game, vice president of player development Dave Littlefield said, but given his standing in the organization as one of its most prized pitching prospects, the team decided to remove him early.

The news is another blow to Perez’s development, which took a serious hit in 2018, when he missed most of the season, first with a right lat strain sustained in spring training which kept him out three months, then with shoulder inflammation, which shut him down for the season in late July.

Perez’s injury issues were notable entering the spring, but now, they must be considered a concern—and perhaps a red flag—for the Tigers.

“We’ll get him back on track,” Littlefield said.

The 21-year-old Perez was the centerpiece return from the Astros in the trade that sent Justin Verlander to Houston in August 2017. The Astros signed him in 2014.

The Tigers were elated with Perez’s progress this spring, but once again, will be left wondering if he will ever stay healthy enough to realize his potential.

He is expected to rehab in Tiger Town and the expectation is he will participate in extended spring training before being assigned to an affiliate, likely high Class A Lakeland.