CHICAGO — The worst fears surrounding catcher Roberto Pérez were confirmed Wednesday when Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk announced that Pérez will need surgery to repair his injured left hamstring.
The surgery will be performed in the coming days and end his season.
"After a rather comprehensive, collaborative effort of physicians across the country, and locally, it was determined and consented by Roberto that the best path forward for him to resume a high, elite professional career for that hamstring injured to be surgically repaired," Tomczyk told traveling media.
Pérez suffered the injury rounding second base on May 7 and was placed on the injured list shortly after the game concluded. Pérez and the Pirates got several opinions on the hamstring with the hope that he could safely return to play this season. That will not happen.
"I think we were all hoping that surgery would not be where it was going and trying to hold off as much hope as possible," Derek Shelton said. "But I feel bad for Roberto just because of the fact, he was off to the start he was, especially in terms of leading our group. We saw from even the play he hurt it on, he played hard. It just sucks."
Pérez slashed .233/.333/.367 with two home runs, eight RBIs and four defensive runs saved.
Michael Perez has received the majority of the starts since Roberto Pérez's injury. This week the Pirates claimed catcher Tyler Heineman off waivers from the Blue Jays and designated Andrew Knapp, the backup entering the season, for assignment.
MORE INJURY NEWS
• Blake Cederlind (Tommy John surgery) was re-examined after experiencing more than usual forearm/elbow soreness last week. He had a PRP injection, which will put him back on the mound and game competition in 4-6 weeks.
• Greg Allen (hamstring) and Nick Mears (elbow surgery) both continue to rehab in Florida and should make an appearance at PNC Park soon.
Jake Marisnick (thumb) stayed at PNC Park to continue his rehab back from surgery. The club announced a 4-6 week time window after his procedure last week.
• A lot of minor-league news to go through:
Henry Davis was placed on the 7-day injured list with a wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch last Wednesday. Imaging shows that he did not suffer a fracture. He will come to Pittsburgh to get more imaging done.
Quinn Priester (oblique) should throw live BPs in the next 7-10 days.
Carmen Mlodzinski (shoulder) should return to games in the next 5-7 days.
Brennan Malone (illness) is throwing live sim games in Florida.
Miguel Yajure is dealing with a lower back/hip injury, similar to the injury he experienced in October.
Lonnie White Jr. is dealing with minor UCL and hamstring injuries, the former of which is partly a product of adjusting to baseball-only life after splitting time as a two-sport athlete in high school. He is currently on the Bradenton Marauders' injured list.
Max Kranick is on the injured list for his forearm again after starting the season on the IL. More details will be made available at a later date.
