The Nationals acquired Perales from the Red Sox on Monday in exchange for Jake Bennett, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's a prospect-for-prospect trade. Perales missed a large chunk of 2024 and nearly all of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he's wowed with his stuff since returning, regularly reaching triple digits with his fastball. The 22-year-old has thrown a total of 9.2 innings beyond A-ball and has a career 12.3 percent walk rate in the minors, but Perales' upside is huge.

Perales averaged 98.6 mph and touched 99.8 mph with his four-seam fastball in his most recent appearance for Triple-A Worcester on Sept. 20.

EDGE Analysis

Perales, who underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2024, logged a total of 2.1 innings across Double-A and Triple-A, with his first appearance coming Sept. 13. His numbers aren't pretty in this tiny sample (7.71 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4:3 K:BB), but Perales' stuff is all the way back and then some, with his fastball not only offering premium velocity but elite movement. He leans heavily on his nasty 90-mph cutter and also mixes in a mid-80s slider, so it's a power arsenal in a small package -- Perales is listed at 6-foot-1, 160 pounds. He only has 8.1 career innings at Double-A and 1.1 innings at Triple-A, so it's unclear which of the upper-minors levels Perales will be assigned to in 2026, but on pure upside, he's right there with any pitcher who has yet to reach the majors.

Perales (elbow) will make his first appearance with Triple-A Worcester this week, Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Perales threw a scoreless inning with Double-A Portland on Saturday, which was his first outing since June 2024 Tommy John surgery. The 22-year-old will make at least one appearance with Worcester and is scheduled to pitch in the Arizona Fall League to accumulate some innings. Perales has electric stuff and could be ready to debut for the Red Sox at some point in 2026.

The Red Sox optioned Perales (elbow) to minor-league camp Friday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Perales is still working his way back from last June's Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old has begun a throwing program but is not expected to pitch in minor-league games until 2026.

Perales (elbow) said Thursday that he's been cleared to throw off flat ground up to 90 feet, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Perales still appears to be in the early stages of his throwing program as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last June. Though the right-hander is unlikely to pitch in games at any point in 2025, the Red Sox recognized enough potential to keep him on the 40-man roster for the second season in a row. Before sustaining the season-ending elbow injury, Perales turned in a 2.94 ERA and 48:11 K:BB in 29.2 innings between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland.

Perales (elbow) underwent a full UCL reconstruction surgery last week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

As anticipated, Perales required a traditional Tommy John surgery to repair the damage ligament in his right elbow rather than an internal brace procedure. As a result, Perales is unlikely to be ready to pitch late in the 2025 season, whereas an internal brace procedure would have resulted in a shorter timeline that could have put him in line to pitch at some point after the All-Star break in 2025. The 21-year-old -- who is regarded as one of the Red Sox's top pitching prospects -- should be back to full health in advance of spring training in 2026.

Perales (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery next week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Perales had to leave a start at Double-A Portland earlier this month with an elbow injury, and subsequent testing has revealed the bad news. The 21-year-old will likely be sidelined at least until late in the 2025 season, if not 2026. Perales held a 2.94 ERA and 56:12 K:BB over 33.2 innings between High-A Greenville and Portland this season.

Perales was placed on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Portland with right elbow inflammation Sunday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 21-year-old suffered the injury during his start Saturday, and the initial diagnosis of inflammation is an encouraging development. Perales has yet to undergo an MRI, and it remains to be seen if that will be necessary.

Perales was removed from Saturday's start at Double-A Portland with an injury to his throwing arm, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.

EDGE Analysis

Perales stepped off the mound after throwing a pitch and was hanging his throwing arm. He was visited by a trainer for a brief moment before exiting to the dugout. Saturday's outing was just Perales' second at Double-A and he tossed five scoreless innings with seven punchouts in his Portland debut. An update on his status should come later this week.

The Red Sox optioned Perales to Triple-A Worcester on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

The 20-year-old was added to Boston's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, but he was never a realistic candidate to make the Opening Day roster. Perales split last season between the Single-A and High-A levels, posting a 3.91 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 115:50 K:BB across 89.2 innings.