Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez exited his start against the New York Mets after being struck in the left forearm by a 92 mph line drive off the bat of Juan Soto.
What happened to Martín Pérez?
During the fifth inning of the Sunday afternoon contest at Truist Park, Juan Soto hit a sharp liner that struck Pérez directly in his pitching arm. According to reports from the field, the veteran left-hander did not attempt a single warmup pitch following the incident, heading immediately to the clubhouse.
Despite the injury, Pérez successfully threw to first base to retire Soto. Prior to the exit, Pérez had struggled early, retiring just two of the first 11 batters he faced. He found a rhythm afterward, retiring nine consecutive batters before the injury occurred.
How does this impact the Braves’ rotation?
The Braves’ starting rotation has been an issue over the past few weeks. Should Pérez require a stint on the injured list, the team faces immediate roster decisions.
According to team transactions, the Braves optioned JR Ritchie on Sunday morning, following a three-inning scoreless relief appearance on Saturday. The club could potentially bring Ritchie back to the Majors to fill the void if Pérez is unavailable for his next turn in the rotation.
What are Pérez’s 2024 season statistics?
Martín Pérez has been with the Braves, providing innings as the team navigated various injuries to their starting staff.
- Overall ERA: 3.54 across 18 appearances.
- Total Innings: 81 1/3 innings.
- Recent Performance: A 4.85 ERA over his six starts since the beginning of June.
Keep reading