The Chicago White Sox just took a gut punch!
Martin Perez, who is possibly their steadiest starter so far this season, ended up leaving Friday’s game at Fenway after three innings and 52 pitches. Fans were left reeling with questions because something didn’t look right. And sure enough, it wasn’t. Perez felt left forearm soreness and made the call himself to avoid anything worse from happening.
Perez later told reporters, “I feel sore. I was just trying to be smart. We have to wait for the MRI tomorrow.” The MRI, though, didn’t bring any good news for him and the team!
The White Sox have placed LHP Martin Perez on the 15-day IL and recalled LHP Jared Schuster from Triple-A Charlotte.
— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) April 19, 2025
The White Sox has now placed the lefty on a 15-day IL because of an inflammation in his throwing elbow. This is a huge setback for the team, which is already walking on thin ice. Martin Perez was brought in with a $5 million deal to bring that veteran energy and leadership to a team filled with youngsters. And he was going strong and has posted a 3.15 ERA over the last 20 innings. Plus, Perez’s first three starts were great—just three earned runs in total. But three steps forward, and now multiple steps back is the reality.
Friday was not a good day for him, and he went four runs, five hits, two walks, and not even a single strikeout. Now with him sidelined, Jared Shuster has been called up by the team from Triple-A Charlotte. The 26-year-old has been going hot there, with a 1.59 ERA and with 15 strikeouts in 11.1 innings. Not so bad for a player who hasn’t gotten many chances to prove himself. At 6 foot 3, though, he brings in size and potential, and now he gets the shot at the bigs. Perez being sidelined is a tough pill to swallow for the Chicago White Sox, no doubt. Because at the end of the day, he has been their calm in the storm.
Now they will have a dark cloudy question mark looming over their heads. The hope right now is that the issue is not long-term. But for a 33-year-old pitcher, inflammation is not something so easily overcome.
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