Lingering vision problem lands Salvy on IL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals placed catcher Salvador Perez on the injured list with lingering vision problems and recalled Randy Rosario to add a left-handed arm in the bullpen ahead of their three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

Perez woke up with vision problems Sunday and called Royals trainer Nick Kenney. He wound up visiting a specialist Monday and was good enough to return to the lineup, but he’s been out with continued blurry vision the rest of the week.

Royals manager Mike Matheny said the specialist found “a little pocket of fluid” and “there’s a long, complex name for it,” but there is little long-term risk. Cam Gallagher will continue to be the primary catcher in Perez’s absence.

It has been a rough 18 months for the six-time All-Star, who missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery. Perez was back on the field for spring training before the coronavirus pandemic shut things down, then he contracted COVID-19 when the team began to congregate for the ramp-up period ahead of the shortened season.

He was healthy by the time the season began and was hitting .307 with four homers and 12 RBIs through 22 games.