Salvador Perez -- General News

Salvador Perez earned World Series MVP honors as the Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets 7-2 in Game 5 on November 1, 2015, claiming the franchise's second championship. Perez batted .364 throughout the series and made critical contributions in the clinching game, including a broken-bat flare that scored Eric Hosmer in the ninth inning and a leadoff single in the 12th inning that sparked a five-run rally. The moment was particularly meaningful given that one year earlier, Perez had ended the 2014 World Series with a pop-up to foul territory, leaving the Royals 90 feet short of victory. In the celebration that followed past 1 a.m. at Citi Field, Perez was visibly emotional, pushing through the champagne-soaked clubhouse to connect with fans behind the first-base dugout while cradling his MVP trophy. Reflecting on the journey, Perez emphasized the team's resilience, stating "We never quit. We never put our heads down," underscoring the Royals' determination to finally break through after falling just short the previous year.

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Salvador Perez returned to catching for the Kansas City Royals on May 13, marking his first appearance behind the plate since May 1 when hip/groin soreness forced him to the sidelines. During his eight-game absence, Perez served as the designated hitter while working with the training staff to recover. Manager Matt Quatraro characterized the rest period as part of the plan to maintain Perez's health while keeping him ready for action. Perez contributed immediately upon his return, hitting a home run in the first inning following Bobby Witt Jr.'s homer two batters earlier. The home run was his sixth of the season and 309th of his career, leaving him eight shy of George Brett's franchise record. Despite the early offensive success, the Royals fell 6-5 to the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Perez noted that his time as DH had aided his preparation, allowing him to focus on hitting while assisting rookie catcher Carter Jensen with scouting and pitcher meetings. The loss was driven by a fifth-inning collapse in which Royals starter Stephen Kolek allowed all five runs charged to him across 4 2/3 innings, ending his streak of quality starts at six consecutive games.

Salvador Perez and manager Matt Quatraro clarified their positions Sunday after a social media dispute following Perez's benching on Saturday. Quatraro had told reporters that Perez was "struggling a little bit" and needed "a little mental breather," prompting Perez to post on X that he didn't need a mental breather and label related coverage as "fake" on Instagram. Both parties addressed the disconnect before Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium, with Perez saying "Little confused, you know. Not the right communication" but confirming that he and his family were fine.

Quatraro clarified that his intention was merely to relieve Perez of pre-game preparation responsibilities rather to suggest any mental or emotional issues. He emphasized that Perez speaks with him daily and was informed on Friday night that he would rest Saturday. The manager noted that "There's a tremendous amount that goes into" catching preparation, particularly for a 16-year veteran like Perez. Quatraro also acknowledged that the story gained traction because Perez rarely misses games.

Perez acknowledged that taking occasional days off is normal in Major League Baseball, particularly for catchers playing a 162-game season. The 36-year-old veteran is dealing with a sore hip and expressed willingness to take some designated hitter duties to manage the physical toll. Despite being benched Saturday, Perez has started 14 of Kansas City's 21 games, though he is currently batting .160 with 3 home runs and 6 RBIs. The Royals also called up veteran catcher Elias Diaz from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, with Diaz slated to start against lefty Cole Ragans and Perez serving as DH.

Salvador Perez has returned to his starting catcher position for the Kansas City Royals after spending time at designated hitter due to hip soreness. Perez met with pitcher Stephen Kolek and pitching coach Brian Sweeney before Tuesday's game against the White Sox to review offensive strategy—his first such meeting since May 1 in Seattle. Manager Matt Quatraro highlighted Perez's defensive value, noting his leadership, extensive experience with 15 years in the majors, and superior game-planning abilities compared to his backup.

Rookie Carter Jensen has filled in at catcher during Perez's absence with uneven results. In 20 games, Jensen has been charged with 4 passed balls and pitchers have thrown 9 wild pitches, compared to Perez's 0 passed balls and 5 wild pitches in 17 games. Quatraro stated the Royals will take a cautious, day-by-day approach with Perez, potentially working him into a two-out-of-three game schedule or rotating throughout the week, pending how he feels after Tuesday's game. At 36 years old, Perez is batting .191 with 5 home runs, 5 doubles, and 17 RBIs across 39 games.