Kansas City Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez damaged the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, raising the possibility the 2015 World Series MVP may need Tommy John surgery and miss the season.
Perez was hurt during a workout Wednesday, and the team said an MRI on Thursday revealed the damage. Perez will travel next week to California for a second opinion from Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
The 28-year-old has been an All-Star for six straight seasons and won Gold Gloves in five of the last six years. He hit .235 last year and had 27 home runs and 80 RBIs for the second straight season. He has a $10 million salary this year and is owed $13 million in each of the following two seasons.
Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria are the other catchers on Kansas City’s 40-man roster. Gallagher, who appeared in 35 games during the past two years, has a .218 career average with two home runs and 12 RBIs.
Viloria, 22, was a September call-up last season and has appeared in three major league games, his only experience above Class A.
Drew Butera, the Royals’ primary backup the past three years, was traded to Colorado on Aug. 31 and signed a minor league contract with Philadelphia last month.
Martin Maldonado, a 2017 Gold Glove winner, is available as a free agent.
AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE
TWINS 4, RED SOX 3
Michael Pineda made his first start for the Twins as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, allowing one hit in two innings, striking out one and walking none. The 30-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since July 2017. He signed with the Twins in December 2017 and as he neared a return late last season, he tore the meniscus in his right knee.
Marwin Gonzalez, who agreed to a $21 million, two-year contract with Minnesota, was 0 for 2 in his first spring training game. Byron Buxton hit his third home run and Trevor May, competing for the closer’s job, pitched a scoreless fifth inning.
Rafael Devers doubled and Sandy Leon hit his first home run, a two-run drive.
PHILLIES 7, PIRATES (SS) 3
J.T. Realmuto, among Philadelphia’s offseason acquisitions, had his first home run and triple of spring training.
Pittsburgh cleanup hitter Jose Osuna went 0 for 3 and is batting .077.
METS 7, TIGERS 1
Jacob deGrom made his second start for New York, allowing just one hit in three shutout innings while striking out four. Amed Rosario and Devin Mesoraco hit solo home runs. Tim Tebow started in left field for the Mets and went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts, reaching base when he was hit by a pitch.
Detroit starter Tyson Ross gave up three runs, three hits and three walks in two innings.
NATIONALS 5, MARLINS 4
Stephen Strasburg made his first spring training start and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings while striking out two. Brian Dozier, Yan Gomes, Michael A. Taylor and Victor Robles hit solo home runs for the Nationals.
Miami’s Trevor Richards made his second start, giving up one run, one hit and two walks in three innings.
PIRATES (SS) 1, BLUE JAYS (SS) 1
Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez made his first start and allowed only a walk in two scoreless innings. Newcomer Clayton Richard followed with two shutout innings
BRAVES 4, BLUE JAYS (SS) 3
Brian McCann singled for his first hit of the exhibition season in his return to Atlanta after stints with the Yankees and Astros.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered for the first time this spring training for Toronto.
RAYS 10, ORIOLES (SS) 5
Newcomer Guillermo Heredia had a two-run home run and an RBI single for Tampa Bay. Austin Meadows hit a solo home run.
Charlie Morton made his first start for the Rays and retired all four batters he faced.
Alex Cobb, just 5-15 in his first season with Baltimore, made his first start and gave up four runs, three hits and a walk while retiring just two batters. Chance Sisco homered for the fourth time.
ORIOLES (SS) 2, YANKEES 2
Yankees newcomer James Paxton gave up one run and two hits in two innings, striking out three. Gary Sanchez, coming back from left shoulder surgery in November, played four innings at catcher and went 0 for 2 in his spring debut.
Andrew Susac and Austin Hays homered for Baltimore.
CARDINALS 4, ASTROS 4
Carlos Correa hit an RBI double for Houston, and Max Stassi had a two-run single. Astros closer Roberto Osuna worked a hitless inning.
Tyler O’Neill and Scott Hurst homered for St. Louis.
AROUND THE CACTUS LEAGUE
ANGELS 10, ROYALS 7
Mike Trout hit his first double walked twice for Los Angeles. Kole Calhoun had a two-run triple and newcomer Jonathan Lucroy doubled and scored.
Jorge Soler hit a three-run home run and added a run-scoring single for Kansas City. Adalberto Mondesi hit his first homer and singled. Royals closer Wily Peralta made his second appearance, striking out two in a scoreless inning.
MARINERS 7, BREWERS 3
Jay Bruce had three hits and drove in two runs. Mitch Haniger and Domingo Santana each homered for the second time for Seattle. Top prospect Justus Sheffield, acquired by the Mariners from the Yankees in the trade that sent left-hander James Paxton to New York, made his second start and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.
Hernan Perez and Cory Spangenberg hit solo home runs for Milwaukee.
ATHLETICS 6, ROCKIES 3
Newcomer Jurickson Profar hit a two-run homer for Oakland, Chad Pinder had a two-run double and Matt Olson added a two-run single. Aaron Brooks pitched four shutout innings in his second start, allowing three hits and two walks.
Raimel Tapia had two hits for Colorado. Nolan Arenado went 0 for 3 and is batting .100. Jon Gray made his second start for the Rockies, pitching three perfect innings and striking out three. Tyler Anderson followed and allowed four runs and four hits in two innings.
WHITE SOX 8, RANGERS 5
Newcomer Ivan Nova made his first start for Chicago, allowing one run and one hit in 2 2/3 innings. Leury Garcia had a double and a triple
Newcomer Shelby Miller made his first start for Texas, giving up two runs, two hits in one inning. Shin-Soo Choo doubled.
CUBS 10, DIAMONDBACKS 2
Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell had run-scoring singles for Chicago. Jose Quintana made his first spring start for the Cubs, yielding one hit in two scoreless innings.
Robbie Ray started for the second time for Arizona, giving up one run and three hits in 2 2/3 innings. Alex Avila had two hits.
INDIANS 8, DODGERS (SS) 4
Leadoff man Leonys Martin went 3 for 3 for Cleveland, and Roberto Perez hit a two-run single. Carlos Santana had two hits, including an RBI single.
Los Angeles starter Ross Stripling struck out three in two scoreless innings.
PADRES 5, DODGERS (SS) 4
Ty France homered and doubled for San Diego, and 21-year-old second baseman Luis Urias was 3 for 3. Manuel Margot hit a two-run double.
Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu threw two shutout innings, but A.J. Pollock went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.
GIANTS 5, REDS 3
San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner fanned five in three innings, allowing one run and three hits. Buster Posey, Evan Longoria and Joe Panik each had a hit. Giants prospect Chris Shaw broke an eighth-inning tie with a long, two-run homer.
Cincinnati starter Tyler Mahle struck out four in two shutout innings. Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin homered for the Reds.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Please read our comment policy before commenting.