Here’s how close Salvador Perez is to a return for the Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals seven-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez remains on the injured list but joined the team in Minneapolis on Thursday for the start of the club’s four-game series against AL Central Division rival Minnesota.

Perez went on the 10-day IL with a Grade 2 left thumb sprain on May 17, following the first game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. The injury took place while he was batting, but it occurred on his glove hand.

Perez did both hitting drills and catching drills prior to batting practice on Thursday at Target Field. The 10 days he’s required to miss will be satisfied on Friday, but he’ll likely have at least one more day of drills and hitting work and coming out of it pain free before he’s in consideration for being reinstated from the IL.

“He’s champing (at the bit),” Royals manager Mike Matheny said of Perez. “... We need to see both. He did both today, and we’re just waiting to see how he feels.”

At the time of his injury, Perez told reporters he hoped to be back as close to 10 days as possible. Though he also acknowledged that the training staff told him they expected the recovery to be closer to three weeks.

Perez had played in each of the first 34 games of the season either at catcher or designated hitter. He batted .206, and his six home runs still led the team entering play on Thursday. At the time of his injury, he was tied for the team lead in RBIs (16).

In his place, rookie catcher MJ Melendez has taken over the primary catcher duties and has been impressive, of late, in his first exposure to the majors.

Melendez recently drew praise from veteran pitcher Zack Greinke for his work behind the plate and as a game caller.

Melendez entered the Twins series batting .259 with a .317 on-base percentage and a .483 slugging percentage in 18 games. He also has six extra-base hits, including three home runs.

In his last seven games, the 23-year-old Melendez has gone 8 for 28 (.286) with two home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored.

“The way he’s swinging it, we need to keep him in the lineup,” Matheny said of Melendez’s playing time when Perez is ready to return. “So he’ll get some work in the outfield. He’ll get some DH opportunities. Salvy is not going to be catching (every game). The rhythm we’ve been on is almost a couple of games a week anyhow for whoever is going to be here to help out catching.

“We’re just going to continue to be open, but we’ll continue to get MJ some work in right field for when that time comes.”