Mike Matheny empathizes with Salvador Pérez; he’s battled COVID-19 too

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s another setback for Salvador Perez.

The Royals announced Saturday the captain was sent home from camp after testing positive for COVID-19.

“I’m asymptomatic, I don’t feel a thing,” Perez told the media via video conference call. “It is what it is, man. It’s something that’s going on in the world right now, not just me,” he finished.

The announcement is another reminder of our new normal and the small steps each person must take to keep the unit healthy.

This message is especially familiar for one of the newest Royals.

“I’ve actually been in the position that he’s in right now because I had this stuff about a month ago,” said first year skipper Mike Matheny. “I think it’s given me a little more empathy but also the urgency to understand we need to be very careful and this thing is for real.”

Matheny believes he was exposed by a family member sometime in early June. Matheny described the timing as "perfect" for him and his wife to quarantine and ride out the virus.

"Wear your mask,” Salvy added. “You never know where you can get it."

Perez will need to pass two consecutive COVID-19 screenings before being cleared to re-join the team.