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Salvador Perez to miss 4-6 weeks with MCL tear

A tough start to the season.

MLB: Spring Training-Los Angeles Dodgers at Kansas City Royals Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Royals announced that All-Star catcher Salvador Perez will begin the year on the disabled list and will miss 4-6 weeks with a grade 2 tear of his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his knee. Salvy injured his leg slipping last night while carrying his luggage. He is not expected to need surgery.

Drew Butera will start at catcher on Opening Day. Butera hit .227/.284/.319 in 177 plate appearances last year. Perez is a five-time All-Star who has caught more innings over the last five seasons than any other catcher in baseball. Perez missed some time last year when he went on the disabled list with a strained intercostal, and he appeared in fewer games than in any season since 2012.