Kansas City Royals captain Salvador Perez and manager Matt Quatraro addressed a recent miscommunication that arose after Quatraro suggested Perez needed a 'mental breather' due to his struggles at the plate. Following the Royals' 13-4 loss to the New York Yankees, Perez took to social media to express his disagreement with the characterization of his situation, posting 'I don't need a mental breather' on X. He later clarified that he was confused by the wording but confirmed that he and Quatraro had discussed the matter and were on the same page. Quatraro explained that the decision to give Perez a day off was intended to reduce his mental load, allowing him to focus on game preparation. Perez, who has been the Royals' starting catcher since 2011, is currently hitting .160 this season with three home runs and six RBIs. Despite the day off, he has started 14 of the team's 21 games. The Royals also announced the call-up of catcher Elias Diaz from Triple-A Omaha, with Perez expected to serve as designated hitter in the game against the Yankees. Both Perez and Quatraro emphasized their commitment to the team and readiness to compete.