If it hasnt already sunk in for Royals fans, it may be more than a little jarring that the club goes into the season knowing Salvador Perez wont be its everyday catcher for the first time since 2012.
Word of Perezs elbow injury came out at the start of the month, and his surgery took place more than 20 days ago, but even Royals general manager Dayton Moore admitted the notion really struck him during Wednesdays workout at Kauffman Stadium on the eve of Opening Day.
It kind of hit me again today when I was watching him in the dugout with his family, Moore said of Perez. Its going to be a challenge, but every successful team, every successful organization, every successful family has to overcome adversity.
Perez will be present for Thursdays game against the White Sox, and hell pick up the Gold Glove he earned last season as one of the best two-way catchers in the game, but Perez wont be behind the plate. Tommy John surgery will keep him sidelined this season, and veteran defensive stalwart Martin Maldonado takes over the reins.
Maldonado, 32, had an abbreviated spring training because he remained an unsigned free agent until joining the Royals on a one-year deal after Perezs surgery. Maldonado signed on March 11, nearly a month after pitchers and catchers reported.
There was doubt, a little bit, Maldonado said of remaining unsigned for so long. There wasnt much doubt, but I had it right around the end before I signed. I was happy to have a chance here. At least I made it in time for camp just to be ready for opening day.
Last season, he batted .225 with a .276 on-base percentage and a .351 slugging percentage with nine home runs, 18 doubles and 44 RBIs. He hit career highs with 14 home runs and 19 doubles while playing in 138 games in 2017.
The Royals wont be counting on him to replace Perezs bat in the middle of the lineup, but Maldonado, a Gold Glove winner, comes highly regarded for his work with pitchers as well as his outstanding catch-and-throw prowess of cutting down base runners.
Since the start of 2012, his 37.7 percent caught stealing percentage leads major-league catchers whove played at least 400 games. Last season, Maldonados 45.5 percent caught stealing ranked second only to Perez (47.1 percent) in the American League.
In 2017 with the Los Angeles Angels, where he caught 138 games, Maldonado snapped Perezs consecutive streak of American League Gold Glove awards at four in a row.
I know that Salvy is the guy here, Maldonado said of taking over the starting job. Hes been helping me a lot. Weve been talking a lot to each other. I just come here to do my job as best I can.
Despite the shortened spring training, Maldonado said he feels good physically, has been happy with the quality of at-bats he had in spring training and was able to catch enough to get his legs under him.
Hes already developed a comfortable level with the pitchers both in games and in side sessions during spring training. Maldonado showed that ability when he used a mound visit to settle down an admittedly frustrated Jakob Junis during a two-run inning against the Cubs.
Homer Baileys best outing of the spring came with Maldonado behind the plate. Afterward, Bailey quipped about them getting on the same page so quickly.
We were walking in and I said, Hey man. You know what Ive got. Youve got enough hits off me over your career. Just help me out, Bailey said.
