Kansas City Royals Catcher Salvador Perez Extends Franchise Record

The Kansas City Royals have not had much to celebrate in a lost season, but their captain gave them one more reason on Thursday. Salvador Perez launched his 20th home run of the year during a loss against the Chicago White Sox, reaching the 20-homer mark for the 10th time and extending his own franchise record. 

The solo shot came in the fourth inning off White Sox rookie David Sandlin. It was Perez’s first long ball since September 6 and accounted for the only run in a 9-1 loss at Kauffman Stadium. He finished 1-for-3 with a walk.

Reaching 20 home runs 10 separate times is rare for any hitter and nearly unheard of for a catcher. A nine-time All-Star and the 2015 World Series MVP, Perez has spent his entire career in Kansas City since debuting in 2011. 

In July, he passed Hall of Famer George Brett to become the franchise’s all-time home run leader, surpassing a mark that had stood for decades.

Perez enters the final series of the year against the Cleveland Guardians batting .228 with a .272 on-base percentage and a .650 OPS across 149 games. He has 20 home runs and 75 RBIs on the season. Even in a down year at the plate, his power has not left completely.

An elbow injury has kept Perez from catching since August 12, pushing him to designated hitter and first base down the stretch. He has been a below-average defender at first base, yet manager Matt Quatraro has still decided to keep him in the everyday lineup.

Perez remains one of the game’s most durable players, especially at 36 years old. He missed the 2019 season after Tommy John surgery but has rarely left the lineup since. He has appeared in at least 140 games for four consecutive seasons.

At 68-91, the Royals sit last in the American League Central. They were eliminated from contention for a second straight year last week. It has been another clear step backward since their postseason appearance back in 2024.

Perez’s leadership remains valuable to a young core built around Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone and rookie catcher Carter Jensen. As a fellow catcher, Perez has become a natural mentor to Jensen. As Kansas City turns toward 2027, Perez will look to turn it around and be more of a contributor. Still, Thursday was a nice moment individually.