For all the recent hitter call-ups to be showered with praise in this space, one who hasn’t is last year’s minor-league home run champ, MJ Melendez.

It’s not his fault he hasn’t gotten to play every day. He’s been blocked by last year’s major-league home run champ, Salvador Perez.

But that changes today — or, actually, yesterday, when Perez left Game 1 of a doubleheader against the White Sox with a sprained thumb. We don’t know the extent of the injury or the length of his absence, but we do know that at least through the end of next week, Melendez will have top billing as Royals catcher.

That could be all he needs to gain a foothold.