KANSAS CITY -- Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez took one round of batting practice before Friday's game against the Indians, and he appears closer to being activated as early as Tuesday.
Perez, who has been on the disabled list because of a right intercostal strain since Aug. 6, also has been performing some catching drills all week. The intercostal is a group of muscles inside the rib cage that help support the chest wall.
Royals manager Ned Yost said Perez will take batting practice all weekend, as well as during Monday's off-day.

"If he passes [Friday], he'll take a full BP on Saturday," Yost said. "And then we'll ramp it up off the machine to get closer to game-type speed Sunday and Monday.
"Then, we'll see where he is on Tuesday."
Yost said Perez definitely won't go out on a Minor League injury rehab assignment. He'll simply be activated.
"Don't really want to send him down with the chance of someone drilling him," Yost said.