Blue Jays Luis Perez Undergoes Minor Elbow Surgery

February 14, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Luis Perez (47) works out during spring training at Bobby Mattick Training Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

You can file this one under the slow news day feature, but the Toronto Blue Jays announced on Friday that relief pitcher Luis Perez underwent successful surgery to remove scar tissue from his pitching elbow, according to Brendan Kennedy at The Star.

The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews, and according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, Perez is expected to be ready for Spring Training. The surgery was related to his 2012 Tommy John surgery.

Perez was one of three Blue Jays pitchers that spent 2013 rehabbing from the dreaded elbow surgery, joining Kyle Drabek and Drew Hutchison on the comeback trail. However, various setbacks held Perez to just 6 appearances at the Minor League level in 2013, and results were mixed in those six appearances. Over a span of 9.2 innings split between Dunedin and Buffalo, Perez posted a 1.86 ERA but suffered with control issues with a 1.50 K/BB ratio.

His results were also mixed when he received a late-season call-up in September. In six appearances with the big club, Perez managed a 5.40 ERA and a 10.8 K/9 ratio over 5 innings of work.

The 28-year-old southpaw will come to camp in February hoping to make the Blue Jays bullpen, but the competition for lefties will be fierce. Aaron Loup and Brett Cecil are all but guaranteed spots in the pen for 2014, unless either is traded beforehand, and rookie Rob Rasmussen will also be looking to make the leap after struggling at Triple-A with the Dodgers in 2013. Toronto may also have to find a home for J.A. Happ should he be bumped from the rotation by any other moves the team makes this winter.