The following article appeared in the Topeka Capital-Journal on May 4 – you can read it by clicking here.

Midway through spring training, when the Kansas City Royals were trying to put the pieces together for 2019, disaster struck. One of their indispensable pieces, prized catcher Salvador Perez, was knocked out for the entire season by an arm injury.

The hope was that the Royals could make drastic improvement on their miserable 2018 showing. But things needed to go right for the 2019 version of the Royals to stay out of the cellar. Keeping key players healthy was tops on the list.

Statistically speaking, Perez is a very good player. Five times he’s been awarded the Gold Glove as best defensive catcher in the American League. At the plate, he’s a free swinger who won’t wow you with his batting average or on-base percentage. But, as catchers go, he’s a solid producer. His 97 home runs over the past four seasons leads the team over that period, as does his 294 RBI.

But it’s in the intangible areas – handling pitchers, calling a game, keeping the clubhouse positive – that he shines. His loss, in that respect, was potentially devastating.

The Royals had to make some decisions, fast. Should they go into the season relying upon the backups they had in the majors to fill Perez’ void? Should they give someone in the lower minors a drastic promotion? Or should they look outside the organization for a replacement?

The number one candidate outside the organization couldn’t have been more clear. Martin Maldonado, a seven-year veteran, had become a free agent without a team, and was just waiting for a call.

Maldonado is not just any catcher. He’s an elite defender, a Gold Glove winner as recently as 2017. Maldonado entered free agency having led all major league catchers in 2018 in caught-stealing percentage at 48.57 percent, just ahead of Perez, coincidentally, who threw out 48.08 percent.

The Royals could have pressed backup Cam Gallagher into full-time duty, and elevated one of their minor league catchers for help. But sensing a need for a more experienced and capable hand, they brought Maldonado in for $2.5 million for one year. Thus they provided a stopgap while leaving the door wide open for Perez to return next season.

“Martin came in very prepared,” said Gallagher, who as the team’s number two catcher has played in eight games this year. “He’s amazingly talented defensively, and he’s seen a lot so he’s got a real knowledge of the game.”

Gallagher said the rehabbing Perez has helped Maldonado acclimate.

“Having Salvy here, he has really helped. Seeing the stuff that they do, how they go about their business, how they prepare for games, it’s been something I’ve tried to learn from.

“It’s got to be a big change jumping from one organization to another. You have to learn all 13 pitchers, their strengths and weaknesses, what they like to do. Learning each of their game plans is pretty difficult and takes time.”

Pitcher Brad Keller noted that Maldonado had very little time in spring training to get up to speed with his new team. But he said he’s been impressed by the work his new battery mate has put in.

“It certainly happened quick,” Keller said. “It’s a big adjustment that starts with throwing bullpens in spring training, learning how each pitcher’s pitch moves, what they like to do, especially in which counts. Credit to him. He is a communicator and he puts in the work. He’s worked his tail off since he’s been with us, trying to figure out all of our staff on such a short notice.

“He just jumped right in with the time we had left, and started catching bullpens. You can tell him things, but he’s got to personally see it.”

So the obvious question is, why was Maldonado available, and at such an affordable rate?

Look no further than his .218 career batting average and his .257 career slugging percentage. Maldonado just isn’t a hitter. The Royals knew that going in, so his anemic showing isn’t a disappointment. But it is a liability. Maldonado is part of a miserably weak bottom half of the Royals order that is dragging the rest of the team down. If the Royals must employ a catcher who can’t hit, they need other bats to pick up the slack. Thus far they haven’t.

Maldonado has filled a critical hole and has earned praise from his teammates. But his presence hasn’t translated into many wins. And he’s certainly not making people forget the beloved Salvador Perez.