Perez breaks a record that stood for over 40 years.
Salvador Perez has done just about everything you can do in a Kansas City Royals uniform.
Five Gold Gloves, nine All-Star selections, and a World Series MVP in 2015.
On Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium, the 36-year-old catcher launched a solo shot to left field in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals and became the all-time home run leader at The K with 137, passing George Brett's mark of 136 that had stood since 1985.
After the game, Perez made it clear how much the moment meant to him.
"That was super exciting," Perez said. "I feel like Kauffman is my second home. I appreciate the fans. Thank you for your support my whole career. I'm not done yet. I got a lot more."
The home run was part of a big night for the Royals, who cruised to a 14-6 win over St. Louis.
Perez went 3-for-5 with a double, a homer, and two runs scored, putting together one of his best games of 2026.
A Career Built for the Record Books
Perez's path to this record has been 15 years in the making.
Signed by Kansas City as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela in 2006, he has never worn another uniform at the big league level and has been the heart of the franchise for well over a decade.
His 313 career home runs now place him just four behind Brett's franchise record of 317, a number he could reach within the next few weeks.
Manager Matt Quatraro did not hold back when talking about what Perez means to the organization.
"What else can you say about the guy?" Quatraro said. "Everything he does is another milestone. ... The guy's a legend."
The 2026 season has not been easy for Perez or the Royals.
He is hitting .207 with a .592 OPS through 76 games, and Kansas City sits at 31-45, well off the pace in the AL Central.
But even in a down year, Perez keeps finding ways to make history.
He tied Brett with his 136th Kauffman homer on May 25 against the Yankees, and it took just 16 games before he finally broke through on Thursday.
Plenty Left in the Tank
When Perez says "I'm not done yet," there is real reason to believe him.
He signed a two-year, $25 million extension last November that keeps him in Kansas City through 2027, meaning he has at least one more full season after this one to add to his legacy.
At 36, the wear and tear of catching is real, but Perez has shown he can stay on the field better than almost any catcher in history.
He played in 155 games last season and hit 30 homers with 100 RBI.
With Brett's franchise home run record now just four away, Perez could become the all-time Royals home run leader before the All-Star break.
For a team that is struggling right now, Salvy remains the one constant that Kansas City fans can always count on.
