Perez Wants to Prove His Worth This Year

Carlos Perez said Wednesday he is determined to regain the fifth spot in the rotation, adding that “people are going to be scared” when they see him pitch.

Perez expressed confidence about his recovery from arthroscopic shoulder surgery as pitchers and catchers reported to Dodgertown at Vero Beach, Fla.

The left-hander said his pitching shoulder is stronger than it has been in many seasons.

Perez, who plans to begin pitching off a mound Friday, acknowledged that he must prove himself to the Dodgers after two poor seasons--and he believes he will.

“I feel more than 100%,” said Perez, who underwent surgery Sept. 14. “Really, I’m fine, and I can do everything. I can work out like there was never nothing wrong with my arm. I don’t even feel nothing like pain.

“When people see me now, they [will] understand why Perez [was] not having great years, why he was pitching like that. No one is going to pitch [well] with pain in his shoulder. No one.”

Perez attributed his ineffectiveness--he is 7-18 with a 6.28 earned-run average the last two seasons--to pain from a bone spur.

He said he has experienced discomfort since 1999, but concealed the injury from management because “I don’t make no excuses.”

The Dodgers probably would have preferred if Perez had said something, considering his three-year, $15.6-million contract has been a source of frustration.

He is owed $7.5 million in the final year of his deal, and the Dodgers are being cautious despite Perez’s enthusiasm.

They want to see whether his velocity has increased--scouts said Perez’s fastball was clocked at 83 mph last season--and how his shoulder responds in the exhibition season before determining his role.

Barring injury, Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park, Darren Dreifort and Andy Ashby are in the rotation.

Ramon Martinez is expected to be the fifth starter, and young right-handers Eric Gagne and Luke Prokopec will be considered for the spot if Martinez struggles.

Perez is eager to compete.

“I’m not coming here to be a bullpen pitcher or go someplace else--I’m going to work hard to get my spot,” Perez said. “We have a lot of new people here, and people I know, but I know my arm is fine and I’ll do the rest.”

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The Dodgers gave Brown permission to report Saturday because he is attending to family matters, said John Olguin, media relations director.