Right elbow inflammation during spring training quickly progressed to Tommy John surgery for Perez, whose 2024 season ended before it began. He'll get a late start to 2025, too, with the Marlins projecting a midseason return for the talented youngster. Perez showed fantasy ace potential at the tender age of 20 in 2023, and if there's a silver lining to him missing the first few months of the 2025 campaign, it's that the kid gloves should be off once he does return. Immediately regaining your stuff and command post-Tommy John surgery is not a slam dunk, of course, and the reality is Perez will be a better fantasy investment in 2026. Still, he could pay dividends in the second half of 2025 if you don't mind waiting it out. Read Past Outlooks