Royals' Perez injures UCL in right elbow

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez damaged the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will seek a second opinion on the injury next week in Los Angeles, the team announced Friday.

The six-time All-Star will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Job Institute, which typically deals with patients who seek a second opinion for a torn UCL and need Tommy John surgery, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Perez would likely miss the entirety of the 2019 campaign if he undergoes the procedure. The Royals are reportedly already in touch with veteran free-agent catcher Martin Maldonado, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.

Perez, 28, slashed .235/.274/.439 with 27 home runs and 80 RBIs for Kansas City in 2018. The Venezuelan has won five Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards with the Royals and helped them capture the World Series in 2015.