Rangers notes: After 14 months, Martin Perez returns to the mound

For the past 14 months, each night when he put his head on the pillow, Martin Perez tried preventing his imagination from running wild.

It hasn’t been easy, because the Texas Rangers left-hander, who had Tommy John elbow surgery in May 2014, has been thinking about Friday’s trip back to the major league mound every day since.

“I was ready for this moment,” said Perez, who starts the second-half opener against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Friday night. “Every time I’d go to bed I tried not to think about it a lot, but it was hard. I’m back here now and it’s a good feeling.”

For Perez, it feels more like Opening Day, not the middle of the season. He started the 2014 season on fire, going 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA before arm troubles crept up and eventually sidelined him in mid-May.

Rangers manager Jeff Banister tipped his cap to Perez for making the long journey back to the big leagues.

“I get joy out of anybody making a return. Being a professional athlete is extremely fragile. You see it every day. They get hurt and they don’t come back,” he said. “[Coming back] is tough. It’s grueling.”

In six minor league rehab starts, Perez had a 4.56 ERA, including five earned runs on 12 hits in six innings in his last start. His stuff, both Banister and Perez agreed, is as good as ever.

“All the evaluations from the scouts and coaches that were there gave us really good reports on how good the ball was coming out of his hand, the shape of the breaking ball, the movement on the fastball with the velocity,” Banister said.

Perez has no doubts.

“I feel I’m back at that level now. I feel stronger because I can throw the ball where I want it and I have velocity,” Perez said before thanking his teammates, training staff and family for supporting his comeback. “I think I’m ready to go do what I like to do.”

Harrison and Holland

Left-hander Matt Harrison, who made his first start in more than a year July 8, threw a live bullpen session Thursday night in Houston and is expected to start Tuesday’s game at Colorado. Wandy Rodriguez starts Monday.

Left-hander Derek Holland (left shoulder inflammation) will throw another bullpen session Friday and expects to throw his first live bullpen in Colorado. He feels ready to start a rehab assignment, but the club wants him to take it slow. He’s likely to return to the Rangers roster in early-to-mid August.

Quotable

“What a beautiful day here in Houston. It’s only 100 [degrees] outside.” — Rangers manager Jeff Banister, who grew up south of Houston, joking about the heat Thursday.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Rangers notes: After 14 months, Martin Perez returns to the mound."