Perez was sidelined on Saturday and Sunday with a right thumb injury.
For a second consecutive day, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez was held out of the starting lineup on Sunday. A scheduled off-day for the team on Monday may be what he needs to rest up in the meantime.
The veteran catcher suffered an injury on his right thumb on a wild pitch that hit the finger in Friday’s loss against the Minnesota Twins. Perez shook off the injury in the game and remained in at catcher after it occurred.
The injury led to some swelling for Perez, but the Royals are hopeful that his feeling in the finger should go back to normal by Tuesday’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers.
Rookie catcher Carter Jensen took over behind the plate on Saturday and Sunday. Perez, now 36 in his 15th season, has continued to play catcher but has had his time more limited. Jensen has now made 34 appearances at catcher, while Perez has made 29 this season. Perez has also spent minimal time at first base.
It is no secret that Perez has significantly declined this season, posting a -0.8 WAR via FanGraphs in 61 games played in. Currently, he is on pace to finish at a career-worst total in the stat, which would be his worst if the season were to end today.
In 2026, Perez’s .599 OPS is actively the seventh-worst total in the league among qualified hitters. He has taken a step forward defensively from last season, but his presence at the plate is increasingly in question as his regular numbers continue to regress.
Perez is attempting to remain as a productive bat in the middle of the order for the Royals, but as others have slumped around him such as Vinnie Pasquantino, his regression speaks louder than it has before. As the physical demands of catching have him splitting time at the position, his future only remains in question.
One facet of the game Perez has not entirely struggled in has been his power numbers. His nine home runs are tied for the team-lead along with Bobby Witt Jr. — those totals bringing him closer to a franchise record. With 312 career home runs, Perez trails only Royals legend George Brett for the most home runs in Royals franchise history by five, as he has 317.
Though Perez’s production levels have not been at the heights the Royals may have hoped for, the potential feat could be a token of hope for Perez’s offensive production to advance going forward.
