Eury Pérez to make final rehab start Tuesday, likely to face Pirates in 2025 Marlins debut

MIAMI, FL—On Monday, Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough informed the media that starting pitcher Eury Pérez will make his final rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Jacksonville. After that, Pérez will be reinstated from the injured list, most likely during the Marlins' series against the Pittsburgh Pirates from June 9-11.

Pérez, 22, underwent Tommy John surgery back on April 8, 2024 and made his first rehab start with Low-A Jupiter just over a year later on April 26. He has completed seven rehab starts in total—five at Low-A and two at Triple-A. He has posted a 1.96 ERA, 11.3 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 through 18 ⅓ innings pitched.

"Checking the box from a health standpoint, which he has," said McCullough prior to the series opener against the Colorado Rockies. "He's been able to build up his stamina, increase the ups and increase the pitch count where you feel like he's got a good enough base underneath him to come up here and pitch into a game."

In his most recent start, Pérez went five innings, allowing one hit, one walk and struck out four. His fastball averaged 97.9 mph and topped out at 99.9 mph. He threw his slider, curveball, changeup and sinker. He threw a total of 72 pitches.

Pérez will likely go around 80-85 pitches in his final start, which will come against the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate).

Per McCullough, there has been no decision on how the Marlins will incorporate Pérez into their existing rotation of Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Weathers, Edward Cabrera, Max Meyer and Cal Quantrill. Creating a temporary six-man rotation could be a possibility. Alcantara has struggled the most overall, but cannot be optioned to the minors without his consent. After excelling during the first month of the season, Meyer has slumped, including matching a career-high with 10 hits allowed in Monday's loss to the MLB-worst Colorado Rockies. Regardless, the Marlins will have to make a corresponding roster move to bring Pérez back from the 60-day IL.

"I think we'll continue to talk about what that's going to look like," said McCullough. "We're not there yet."