Martín Pérez is in his 14th major-league season.
But the Chicago White Sox left-hander naturally felt the nerves as he returned to a big-league mound for the first time in nearly four months following an injury.
“My legs were shaking a lot,” Pérez said. “But as soon as I don’t feel that anymore, I’ll go home.”
Pérez fired a strike on his first pitch in the sixth inning to Detroit Tigers left fielder Kerry Carpenter on Wednesday as he completed the lengthy road back after leaving an April start with left elbow inflammation.
Pérez allowed one run in 3 1/3 relief innings in a 1-0 loss in front of 13,647 at Rate Field.
“It’s good, man,” Pérez said of the return. “I was so nervous in the first inning. I don’t know if you guys saw it. It was good to be back after almost four months, to be back on the mound and compete again.”
Pérez said “everything” felt good.
“I don’t have pain,” he said. “Without pain I can do a lot of stuff and I can help the team a lot. When you feel pain and you feel something in your body, you are not going to do your 100%. Now, I feel good and I think I’m back.”
Pérez surrendered three hits, walked two and struck out four after following starter Shane Smith, who struck out five in while allowing two hits and walking three in five scoreless innings.
“(Pérez) was outstanding,” manager Will Venable said. “First couple of batters there, just didn’t have the command that we know he has. Nice job by (pitching coach) Ethan (Katz), the (mound) visit, to get the mechanics back.
“Obviously (Pérez) did a great job from there. The Martín we saw from earlier in the season. For his journey this year and to have him come and do what he did today was awesome.”
Pérez, 34, last pitched on April 18, exiting after three innings against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He went on the injured list the next day with left elbow inflammation and transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 21 with the updated diagnosis of a left flexor strain.
Even when he was out, Pérez aided the Sox.
“He’s been helping me a lot, talking about how to handle pitchers in the big leagues, how you have to work, and I’m happy for that,” catcher Edgar Quero said.
The Sox reinstated Pérez from the IL ahead of Wednesday’s game, along with optioning reliever Cam Booser to Triple-A Charlotte and designating pitcher Jared Shuster for assignment.
Pérez, who signed a one-year deal with the Sox in the offseason, made four starts before the injury. He had two minor-league rehab outings leading into Wednesday’s return.
“In Boston after the game, I was sitting with (head trainer) James (Kruk) and he told me, ‘Hey Martín, at some point maybe you are going to get surgery,’” Pérez said. “I went, ooh, what is this, I’m not 21 anymore. I have a lot of innings on my arm and it’s going to be a long process and take time.
“A lot was going on in my mind. I get the second opinion from (Dr. Keith) Meister and he said you don’t need surgery because if you get surgery you go home. It’s over for you. I went through all the routine and all the rehab and now we are here.”
Tigers left fielder Kerry Carpenter scores on a sacrifice fly against the White Sox during the sixth inning on Aug. 13, 2025, at Rate Field. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Pérez allowed a single to Carpenter and then a double to Spencer Torkelson. Riley Greene walked, loading the bases for Wenceel Pérez. The right fielder brought home Carpenter with a sacrifice fly to center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
That would be the game’s only run as the Tigers took the series and handed the Sox their eight loss in 10 games.
The Sox were limited to two hits, a fifth-inning double from Robert and a Curtis Mead single in the sixth. The Sox played Wednesday without outfielder Mike Tauchman, who was a late scratch because of a sore right shoulder.
“Coming in we knew (Tigers starter Troy Melton) was going to be really aggressive, and he did just that,” Venable said. “We saw a lot of foul balls, a lot of 1-2, 0-2 counts where he just beat us in the zone. Extremely aggressive, extremely efficient. We were ready for it, just couldn’t do it and got to credit him.”
Melton allowed one hit and struck out six in five innings.
Smith was just nearly sharp for the Sox. And Pérez rebounded after the first couple of batters to cap his comeback.
“It’s a long process,” Pérez said. “But every day was a race for me. At the same time, I was believing in my routine, what was the plan and to get to the point that I’m at now. So, let’s just keep going, man.”
Originally Published: August 13, 2025 at 1:14 PM CDT