Matt Quatraro Shares Reason for Salvador Perez's Removal From Kansas City Royals Lineup

Matt Quatraro Shares Reason for Salvador Perez's Removal From Kansas City Royals Lineup

The Kansas City Royals are searching for answers during a difficult stretch, and on Saturday that meant giving their longtime captain Salvador Perez a rare day out of the lineup.

The Royals entered the day in the midst of a five-game losing streak, sitting at 7-13 and in last place in the American League Central after a disappointing start. With the offense sputtering and the team looking for any spark, manager Matt Quatraro made the decision to sit Perez for the first time this season.

“Just looking at the way things have gone, he's played in every game. Day game after night game, Carter was going to catch today, and Salvy’s been struggling a little bit. Just try to give him a little mental breather,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said (h/t Anne Rogers of MLB.com).

It was a notable move given Perez’s stature within the organization. The 35-year-old right-hander slugger is one of the greatest players in franchise history, a nine-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, five-time Gold Glove winner and the 2015 World Series MVP.

He has spent his entire 15-year career in Kansas City and remains the face of the franchise. But even legends hit rough patches, and Perez is in the middle of one now.

Through 20 games, Perez is hitting .160 with a .210 on-base percentage, .517 OPS, three home runs and six RBIs. He has started every game in some capacity, whether at catcher, designated hitter or first base, but the production has not been there. With the Royals struggling to score and Perez pressing at the plate, a reset day may be exactly what he needs.

Perez is still signed through the 2027 season, and while he has shown signs of decline early this year, the Royals continue to rely on his leadership and presence.

His voice carries weight in the clubhouse, and the team needs that now more than ever as they try to climb out of their early hole. Kansas City’s offense has been one of the biggest issues during this losing streak, and getting Perez back on track would go a long way toward stabilizing the lineup.