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Royals Need a New Catching Plan as Perez’s Elbow Flares
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- Royals Need a New Catching Plan as Perez’s Elbow Flares
Royals Need a New Catching Plan as Perez’s Elbow Flares
(Peter Aiken-Imagn Images)
Salvador Perez hopes to return when the Royals open their series against the Angels, though his right elbow has already forced Kansas City to adjust once this summer.
The soreness returned during Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers and sent him out of the game after he had driven in a run.
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Perez has played through smaller injuries for most of his career, which can make a quick return sound routine.
This one deserves more care because the same elbow limited his range of motion in July and changed how often the Royals used him behind the plate.
The Earlier Problem
Matt Quatraro connected the flare-up to that earlier stretch when he said, "It's very similar to what he had when we started not catching him as much, probably six weeks, two months ago, whatever it was. Just flared up on him a little bit today."
Kansas City had already reduced Perez's catching work during the first elbow issue , and the return of the soreness gives the club a reason to keep that plan in place.
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A day at designated hitter can protect some of his throwing, though gripping the bat still tests the joint.
Perez has spent 15 seasons with Kansas City , including games when he stayed in the lineup through discomfort.
The Royals can respect that history while using Carter Jensen more often at catcher, especially because Jensen has already handled the larger share when Perez was unavailable.
The throwing test should cover more than one hard toss before the game.
Perez has to receive pitches, reach outside the zone and make repeated throws before a steal attempt ever happens.
A full catching workout will show whether the elbow can repeat the motion deep into the night.
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Kansas City Can Change the Workload
The Dodgers series ended without a win, and Perez's third-inning single brought in one of only two Kansas City runs in the finale.
The lineup still leans on Bobby Witt Jr., now in his fifth season with Kansas City , which leaves Perez as the other veteran voice in the middle of the order.
His offense had already slipped during the first half , so playing through another elbow problem may leave the Royals with less power and a catcher whose throwing is limited.
More time at designated hitter gives his bat a chance to recover without asking him to make dozens of throws.
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Jensen's presence lets Quatraro keep Perez away from the plate until the elbow handles a full catching workout.
The manager can also use the Angels series to see whether a few days away from catching settles the soreness before the club commits to a longer plan.
The next schedule decision can stay flexible because designated hitter isn't the only alternative.
Quatraro can give Perez a full day off, use him late against a favorable reliever or let him start at designated hitter and leave before the final innings.
Those options protect some workload without asking the rest of the lineup to operate as if the captain has disappeared.
Perez may be ready to hit Friday, but his next start at catcher should depend on how the elbow responds after a full pregame throwing session.
