On the same day catcher Salvador Perez was activated from the disabled list, the Kansas City Royals announced that pitcher Felipe Paulino has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
The 22-year-old Perez missed the season’s first 67 games after suffering torn cartilage in his left knee on March 13. He rejoins the Royals on Friday after batting .340 during a 12-game injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha.
Because Perez is returning from the 60-day DL, the Royals had to make corresponding moves to clear space on both their 25- and 40-man rosters. And they did so by optioning pitcher Tommy Hottovy to Omaha and transferring outfielder Lorenzo Cain to the 60-day DL.
Paulino, meanwhile, plans to get a second opinion but is likely to become the fourth Royals pitcher this season to undergo Tommy John surgery, joining Joakim Soria, Blake Wood and Danny Duffy.
The diagnosis on Paulino comes on the heels of a rehab appearance for Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday. He had been placed on the 15-day DL earlier this month with a strained right groin.
In seven starts this season, Paulino compiled a 3-1 record with a 1.67 ERA.