The glow from the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory still hangs over the city, and now Kansas City sports fans are turning toward baseball. The Royals are in full swing at their spring training home in Surprise, Arizona, and one of the most anticipated stories is the return of All Star catcher Salvador Perez, who underwent Tommy John surgery last March and missed the whole season.
In the video, Dr. Vince Key, orthopedic surgeon with The University of Kansas Health System, and head team doctor for the Royals, talks about what’s involved in Tommy John surgery. Though Dr. Key didn’t perform the actual surgery, he trained with the surgeon who invented the procedure and has overseen Salvy’s recovery and rehab. He explains why the process is different for pitchers as opposed to position players like Salvy. He also describes why the process takes an entire team of medical professionals. He says Perez has done a magnificent job in his rehab, allowing them time to fix other chronic problems Salvy has endured, and has essentially rebuilt his body into a “well-tuned machine.”
Also, Royals catcher Salvador Perez says he feels “great right now,” and praises the medical team who helped get him ready for this season. He says he’s excited to be back playing to win with his team and can’t wait for the first game of spring training.
The video also shows Salvy catching warmup pitches in the bullpen.
