Royals catcher Salvador Perez has had a difficult season. After hitting 48 home runs in 2021, the most by a catcher in a season, and finishing seventh in American League MVP voting, he is hitting .211/.254/.426 in 236 plate appearances and is on pace for a career-low OPS.
The reason for Perez's struggles is now simple to see: injury. He is on the injured list for a second time this season, and this stint figures to be lengthy.
The Sporting News has the latest updates on Salvador Perez's injury, including a timetable for his return and Perez's injury history.
MORE: Perez breaks Johnny Bench's MLB record with 46th home run by catcher
What is Salvador Perez's injury?
Perez missed 10 days in May after spraining his left thumb while swinging. Once he returned, he resumed his duties as Kansas City's primary catcher. He tweaked the thumb on Wednesday and will now undergo surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in it.
How long will Salvador Perez be out?
The Royals placed Perez on the 10-day injured list Friday, but with the catcher headed under the knife, he will need more time than that to return.
According to Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics, the typical recovery time for a UCL tear in the thumb is four to six weeks after surgery. That would mean Perez could be back sometime between late July and mid-August.
Manager Mike Matheny provided an update on Perez's injury timeline prior to Kansas City's clash with the A's Friday, saying Perez is expected to miss eight weeks due to his injury.
Mike Matheny says Salvador Perez had surgery on his left thumb today and it went well. Matheny feared the worst, a possible season ending situation, but he says timeline is 8 weeks. As expected, Perez devastated. Matheny saying, “Salvy was wrecked,” about the news.
— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) June 24, 2022
Salvador Perez injury history
Perez, like any catcher, has suffered his fair share of bumps and bruises over the course of his career, but most of his ailments have affected his legs or his elbows.
Perez underwent knee surgery in March 2012 and was out until June of that season. He dealt with an MCL injury in his knee in 2018. He missed the entire 2019 season after injuring his elbow during spring training.
He was in fine form the past two seasons after his return from the elbow injury, receiving MVP votes in 2020 and 2021. Last year, he played in a career-high 161 games, 120 as a catcher. He Kansas City's designated hitter for 40 games.
A seven-time All-Star, Perez is one of the league's most fearsome power hitters when he is at his best. He put up a 159 OPS+ in the shortened 2020 season and followed that up with a 127 OPS+ in 2021. His absence is certain to weaken the Royals' lineup, which already ranks among the worst in MLB.