Luis Perez is a middle reliever for the Toronto Blue Jays; he's been having a decent season, posting a 3.43 ERA and 1.286 WHIP in 35 appearances covering 42 innings.

Normally, you wouldn't hear a thing about him here at Baseball Nation. But last week the Jays announced that Perez had a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and would miss the rest of the season. Perez was going to get a second opinion before opting for the usual remedy for a torn UCL, Tommy John surgery. He's evidently found that second opinion, because:

John Farrell just confirmed Luis Perez will undergo Tommy John Surgery. Will have it in Fla tomorrow. #bluejays

— Barry Davis (@SNBarryDavis) July 16, 2012

This still wouldn't be big news, except that this sort of injury seems like an epidemic in the Blue Jays clubhouse. Starter Kyle Drabek underwent Tommy John surgery last month and fellow rotation-mate Drew Hutchison has the same sort of elbow injury, but for now is attempting to rehab it without going under the TJ knife.

Is this random? Or is there something in the way the Blue Jays handle pitchers that makes them more susceptible to this sort of injury? It's something team management likely has to investigate, and soon, before more of their pitching staff goes down with torn UCLs.

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