Fernando Perez ~ RF [R]

[Lets Go Rays]

Perez out at least three months

OF Fernando Perez has a dislocated left wrist and will be out at least three months, manager Joe Maddon said.

"It's unfortunate," Maddon said. "Obviously he's very disappointed, he’s really coming on as a young player so it's difficult. But it could have been worse, obviously, so three months we can live with that. And we’ll take it from there."

Perez suffered the injury in Tuesday's game against the Jays, trying to make a diving catch on a liner to shallow right-center.

As for the impact on the Rays opening day roster, Maddon said Perez "probably would have played" in centerfield to open the season if CF B.J. Upton were not ready to return from offseason left shoulder surgery. Now, Maddon said Perez's absence gives other players opportunities to get out there.

"Now we've Got Gabe (Kapler) out there, going to get Ben Zobrist out there," Maddon said. "It just gives some other people opportunities out there in case something else were to happen. That’s the impact."

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Further examination of OF Fernando Perez's disclocated left wrist revealed ligament damage and a procedure done Saturday in Arizona will now sideline him for 4-5 months rather than the original three the Rays expected.

Oh my gosh. Another good player out.

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Executive VP Andrew Friedman said the positive side was that the procedure by Dr. Donald Sheridan, which involved putting pins in the wrist, will allow Perez to make a complete recovery.

"The good news is that we caught it now, had we not it could have been something that plagued him for the rest of his career,'' Friedman said. "Had we not caught this it could have ended up being a much bigger problem.''
It's possible Perez will miss the entire season, though Friedman said it was "way too early" to say.

[Lets Go Rays]

OF Fernando Perez will be out longer than expected due to a dislocated left wrist. Initial estimates had him returning in three months (June), but a new diagnosis indicated that four or five months (July or August) might be more realistic.