Perez Returns After Royals Benching Misunderstanding

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez returned to the lineup as the designated hitter on Sunday after expressing confusion over manager Matt Quatraro's decision to bench him the previous day against the New York Yankees. The move, intended as a mental break, sparked a brief public disagreement that both players and the manager quickly resolved through direct communication.

Perez, a nine-time All-Star known for his durability, had not missed a game since sitting out two contests last August. Quatraro informed him the night before Saturday's matchup that he would sit, aiming to ease the workload of preparing game plans as a catcher. The Royals lost 13-4 that afternoon, dropping to 7-14 and tying the Chicago White Sox for the worst record in the American League. After the game, Quatraro described the absence to reporters as providing Perez a "mental breather," a phrasing that Perez contested on social media that evening. "I don't need a mental breather," Perez posted, adding that everyone has off days in the majors and acknowledging the challenges of playing 162 games, particularly behind the plate.

The misunderstanding stemmed from a lack of clear communication, Perez said...