Salvador Perez's résumé speaks for itself: World Series MVP, nine-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove winner. And he's still adding to it. In 2021, he hit 48 home runs, setting the single-season record for a catcher at the time. He also delivered one of the most iconic moments in Royals history in 2014, with a walk-off hit in the Wild Card Game against Oakland, giving Kansas City its first playoff win since 1985. Now with 308 career home runs, he sits second in Royals history, just nine behind George Brett’s 317. Whether it is the “Salvy Splashes” after a win or the way he carries himself every day, there is a steady authenticity to him that remains the same.
It all started almost twenty years ago when he signed as a teenager out of Valencia, Venezuela. He arrived in 2006 as a 16-year-old and slowly grew into the heartbeat of the organization. Since his debut in 2011, he has become one of the most decorated catchers in franchise history, known for his defense, his arm, and his presence behind the plate.
He has never forgotten what it felt like to arrive so young, in a new country with a new language and a completely unfamiliar life. Still, something about Kansas City clicked right away. “The day that I signed in Kansas City, I feel like I found another family,” he said. “Through all the minor leagues and playing big leagues for many years, I feel like this is home, too.”
That feeling only deepened over time. Eventually, Perez was named the fourth captain in Royals franchise history, a role he treats with real responsibility. For him, it is not just about performance, but about how he carries himself in the clubhouse and in the city. “Be humble. That is one of the keys,” he said. “Work hard, prepare yourself, sacrifice yourself, and learn from the other players like George Brett.”
Off the field, Perez has built a presence that goes far beyond baseball. He donated $1 million to help fund the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy, and his work with organizations like Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer and Sarah’s Soldiers, which supports families affected by ALS, has become a major part of who he is. When he talks about Sarah, the inspiration behind one of those efforts, it clearly hits him differently. “She’s my inspiration every day and is the strongest woman I’ve ever met in my life. We do everything for her,” Perez explains.
That perspective is part of what made the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award he won so meaningful for him. It recognizes character and philanthropy, but for Perez it connects directly to the people he has met and the stories that have stayed with him. “Being awarded that means a lot,” he said. “It’s like winning the MVP in the World Series. It means that I try to do good things and to make some people happy. Sometimes we think going 0-for-4 is the worst thing in our life. But when you really realize there are people who have it worse than you, you kind of thank God, even when we struggle a little bit in baseball.” He is the third Royal ever to receive the honor, along with George Brett and Bobby Witt Jr.
Still, Perez is not someone who seeks attention for any of it. In fact, he tends to avoid it. “If I’m going to do something, it’s coming from my heart, because I want to do it,” he said. “I don’t have to post that anywhere. I feel happy to do it, and that’s the only thing I care about. If God put it in my heart to do it, I don’t need anybody to take a picture.” That same mindset shows up in the clubhouse, where he encourages teammates to step away from the grind and connect with the community, even during the hardest parts of a long season. “Even when we’re struggling during the season and then you go out and have a great time with kids, do a clinic, talk about baseball, take some pictures, you kind of forget a little bit,” he said. “It’s hard to be 100% focused on baseball every day. 162 games is a long season. But when I struggle, I love to go out and do something for someone else. If you can take one day a month, even two is better. We can make a lot of kids happy.”
That same sense of responsibility follows him back to Venezuela, where he still feels deeply connected despite everything he has accomplished here. Growing up without easy access to equipment shaped how he views giving back. “Where I come from, it is really hard to buy gloves and bats,” he said, “so I just like to help as much as I can.” He knows people are watching, in Kansas City and back home, and he takes that seriously. “If I do things wrong, I let a lot of people down. So I try to carry that with me every day, to make the best decisions I can,” he explains.
The 2015 championship team still is special to him, and moments like the Wild Card walk-off against Oakland that set everything in motion. Names from that team still come up easily, like they never left the clubhouse. Salvador Perez has become one of the most accomplished players of his era, but the way he shows up has stayed the same. Day after day he plays hard, leads his team, gives back to his community, and is still carrying the same belief that brought him here in the first place.
“She’s my inspiration every day and is the strongest woman I’ve ever met in my life. We do everything for her,” Perez explains.
“If I do things wrong, I let a lot of people down. So I try to carry that with me every day, to make the best decisions I can,” he explains.