Chicago White Sox receive good and bad news on injured pitcher: Insider

The White Sox got good and bad news regarding the status of Pérez’s elbow, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported that Pérez will not have Tommy John surgery and could begin throwing in Sept., though Rogers reports that it seems unlikely that he’ll be back this year. Tommy John was the fear for Pérez, as when the words “forearm tightness” are said, it’s usually a precursor to getting the surgery.

“Following up on the Martin Perez injury. He won’t have Tommy John, per a source. He could be throwing again in Sept. but for all practical purposes his year is over.”

Before he went on the injured list, Pérez was one of the more consistent White Sox starting pitchers, pitching to a 1-1 record with a 3.15 ERA and a 129 ERA+.

The White Sox signed Pérez to a one-year deal over the offseason, and he was supposed to be one of the White Sox leaders on their pitching staff and be an asset to trade at this year’s trade deadline, but they sadly won’t be able to reap the benefits of Pérez’s strong start.

Pérez missing time could be an opening for a few prospects

The White Sox will need to find some arms to fill in for Pérez while he’s out, and the most immediate options the White Sox could turn to are Brsye Wilson and Tyler Gilbert. However, with the White Sox making a strong case to be one of the worst teams this season, they could fast-track a few of their pitching prospects to the big leagues.

The White Sox’s three top pitching prospects, Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Grant Taylor, are headlining the rotation down at Double-A, but with the White Sox injuries and lack of success from their starters at the major league level (outside of Shane Smith), one of these three could get the called to come up.

A move needs to be made

The White Sox will have to figure out who will make the start tomorrow, as that will be Pérez’s spot in the rotation. An announcement will likely come tomorrow before the game, but a long-term solution needs to be found.

The Cleveland Guardians did designate Triston McKenzie for assignment, and the White Sox should look into adding his arm to their roster, as he would provide a huge boost in the wake of the Pérez news. Since Pérez won’t require Tommy John, which would force him to miss next season, the White Sox and him could agree on a deal for next season.