KC Royals’ Sal Perez slated to begin a rehab assignment, Bobby Witt not in the lineup

Kansas City Royals star catcher and team leader Salvador Perez is expected to take the field for the first time in more than a month with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers as part of a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday night.

The Royals began their series against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium on Monday night without two of their most potent offensive players in the lineup.

Perez has not played since re-aggravating his thumb injury on the road against the Angels on June 21, and rookie shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was not in the starting lineup after he left Sunday’s game due to hamstring tightness.

Though it appears that both the club’s veteran face of the franchise and the rookie rising star and potential future face of the franchise could be back soon.

Perez, who has been on the injured list since June 24 following surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, is set to join the Storm Chasers as they begin a six-game stretch in Syracuse against the New York Mets Triple-A affiliate.

The Mets announced on Monday that two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom will begin a rehab assignment with Syracuse on Wednesday.

While the Royals have not said how long Perez’s rehab assignment will last, the Royals will play a four-game series in New York this weekend (Thursday-Sunday) against the Yankees.

A seven-time All-Star who also has five Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers on his resume, Perez was initially expected to miss eight weeks.

However, he has been increasing his workload prior to games at Kauffman Stadium in recent weeks, and he seems laser-focused on beating that initial timeline.

Witt has not been placed on the IL and his status is considered day-to-day. He left Sunday’s game after feeling tightness in his hamstring while stealing second base in the first inning of a series-clinching win against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Witt did some light fielding drills and played catch prior to Monday’s game.

Witt leads all MLB rookies in triples (fives), doubles (19) and extra-base hits (38). He also ranks second among rookies in runs scored (51), RBIs (51), hits (91), steals (20) and home runs (14). He leads the Royals in home runs, steals and RBIs.

Triple-A Omaha also hosted a rehab assignment for right-hander Jonathan Heasley on Sunday. Heasley, on the IL since July 10 with right shoulder tendinitis, pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits, one home run, and three strikeouts. Heasley threw 60 pitches.

Royals left-hander Daniel Lynch was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Omaha on Monday, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

With Heasley and Lynch both currently on the IL, the Royals are expected to start left-hander Angel Zerpa on Tuesday against the Angels. No roster move had been made prior to Monday’s game to add Zerpa.

Zerpa (2-0) had a strong pitch performance for the Royals in a recent start in Toronto against the Blue Jays on July 14. He earned his second win in the majors this season. He pitched five innings and allowed one run on four hits, the lone run coming on a solo home run.