Salvador Perez to miss 4-6 weeks after a suitcase-related injury
The Major League Baseball regular season hasn’t even started yet, but we’ve already seen our first big injury. Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez will miss the first 4-6 weeks of the 2018 regular season after a suitcase-related injury, according to Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com.
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Perez tore his MCL after missing a step while carrying his luggage into his house.
Salvador Perez says he missed a step while carrying luggage in his house. His left knee hyperextended and the MRI showed a Grade 2 tear of his MCL. He’ll miss four to six weeks: pic.twitter.com/GHNXQaBO9t
— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) March 28, 2018
The on the field ramifications are clear. After losing Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer in free agency, Perez was even more crucial to the Royals’ success in 2018. While the team wasn’t expected to be great, Perez is one of its star, and a main draw for fans.
Last season, the 27-year-old hit .268/.297/.495, with 27 home runs, in 499 plate appearances. He was once again an iron man behind the plate, starting 129 games for the Royals. To give an idea of how durable Perez has been with the club, that figure was tied for fifth-most among catchers. It was Perez’s lowest number of games played in a single season since 2012.
With Perez out, the team will turn likely turn to Drew Butera behind the plate.
The way Perez injured himself makes the injury even more brutal. He had made it through all of spring training healthy and ready to go, only to experience a freak injury just before opening day.
“I feel sad. I’ve put a lot of work into this year and to be behind home plate tomorrow and I’m not going to be there… Now I just need to get well and get ready.” – Salvy on his knee injury. pic.twitter.com/RX0o7TO5Iu
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 28, 2018
This is not the first time a player has been injured due to a suitcase. In 2012, catcher Jonathan Lucroy broke his hand while packing his suitcase for a road trip.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
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