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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Surgery has Perez behind, but outfielder still hoping to make team

Posted Feb 26, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Feb 26, 2010 at 11:13 AM

Fernando Perez took his first cuts of the spring the first day he reported to camp last week. But that was at a ball sitting on a hitting T and that was to break up scar tissue on his left shoulder.

“I’m definitely behind,” the Rays outfielder said.

Perez had surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder Oct. 20. Rays center fielder B.J. Upton had similar surgery in November of 2008 and was limited last spring. Upton opened the year on the disabled list and said the spillover from the surgery and the rehab impacted his season.

“(Upton) went through a lot,” Perez said. “I don’t think he got enough credit for what he went through.”

Since Perez had the surgery in October, he is not as far behind in his rehab as Upton was at this point last spring. Perez took live batting practice Thursday and has participated in all the fielding drills. He said he’s not limited in any way.

“I’m so happy to be on the field,” Perez said. “I’m pleasantly surprised.”

Perez missed most of spring training last March when he dislocated his wrist while diving for a ball during a spring training game. The injury forced him to miss 130 games last season.

Perez, who is competing for a spot on the team as the fifth outfielder, is hoping he gets that chance to compete. He wants to play early and often. Since he’s not a power hitter, he feels his swing will return quick enough for him to do what he normally does – play small ball.

“I have the cheat codes,” Perez said. “I can make contact. I can bunt. I can steal bases. I can do a lot of things to take over a game.”