SURPRISE, Ariz. — Martin Perez’s broken left forearm was in a temporary splint Monday morning, and the left-hander was in surprisingly good spirits a day after suffering an injury that will keep him out for two months.
Perez, 21, was struck by a line drive in the sixth inning Sunday, his second inning of a scheduled three. He said he felt right away that it was a serious injury, the first of any kind of his career.He is out of the running to be the Rangers’ No. 5 starter to open the season, but his goal is to be able to help the team by late April or early May.Perez’s arm will be immobilized for two weeks, but the ulna bone was only cracked as opposed to a displaced fracture. He will be able to do range-of-motion exercises and possibly be ready to throw in three or four weeks.“I’m just going to do what they say,” Perez said. “I’m going to be focused so I can be ready in a couple months. I want to be ready to help my team. That’s what I want.”Randy Wells and Robbie Ross are at the head of a group of five still contending for the lone rotation opening. Also in the mix are Kyle McClellan, whose sore shoulder has prevented him from pitching in a game, and rookies Justin Grimm and Nick Tepesch.A source said that the Rangers have been in contact with Scott Boras, the agent for free-agent righty Kyle Lohse. Lohse, who lives in Scottsdale, has been working on a normal spring training schedule and is facing college hitters in simulated games.General manager Jon Daniels said on Sunday that the Rangers are likely to stick with their internal candidates to fill the spot until Colby Lewis or Perez is ready.WBC in Beltre’s mindAdrian Beltre made his 2013 Cactus League debut against San Diego, playing third base and batting first at Surprise Stadium, after a slow start to camp because of inflammation in his right calf.But Beltre will only be in the Rangers’ lineup for a week if the Dominican Republic survives the first round of the World Baseball Classic. Beltre would join them for the next round.“We’ll see if I’m healthy enough,” said Beltre, who went 1 for 3 and played five innings. “I want to be 100 percent and not force it.”Beltre doesn’t feel like he is behind schedule in his preparation for the regular season. He doesn’t prescribe to the theory that he needs a certain amount of game time each spring to be ready. He just knows when he’s good to go.“I don’t really think about at-bats,” Beltre said. “It all depends on how I feel. It’s about having that right feeling offensively, just to feel the right balance.”Day off todayThe WBC has extended spring training this year, and the first of three scheduled off days arrives today. The Rangers have no on-field activities planned.“If they want to come in and do something, it’s on them,” manager Ron Washington said. “I’m not telling anyone to come in here because I won’t be here.”The only Rangers player in Arizona who will be in action is Derek Holland, who will pitch for Team USA in an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox. Otherwise, it’s a day of rest, golf or time with the family.“The first thing is I’m going to get a haircut, and then I’ll figure it out from there,” Washington said.Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @JeffWilson_FWST
