RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Salvador Perez's case for the the best Kansas City Royals player of all time just got more compelling.
Perez, 36, hit a home run in the seventh inning to bring the Royals into a 2-2 tie with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, July 25. The Royals went on to win from Nick Loftin's home run in the ninth. Perez's home run was more significant, however, as it was his 318th career home run.
Perez surpassed George Brett to become the Royals' all-time leader in career home runs.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted , "Let's go! @SalvadorPerez15 congrats!!!"
The Royals tweeted out a video message from Brett to Perez shortly after his 318th homer soared over the fences at Comerica Park.
"Salvy, they say records are meant to be broken, and you're proof of that," Brett said in the video. "318 home runs, all while wearing Royal blue. You know, we played in different eras, but I think we've got a lot in common: Playing for the name on the front of the jersey, wanting to be on the field, no matter what, and most importantly, hating to lose. So, today, I'm as proud as ever to share a spot in Royal history with you. Congrats."
"Perez’s 318 home runs are the seventh most by a catcher in Major League history (min. 50% of games at the position), trailing Mike Piazza (427), Johnny Bench (389), Carlton Fisk (376), Yogi Berra (358), Lance Parrish (324) and Gary Carter (324)," MLB .com's Anne Rogers relayed. "All but Parrish on that list ahead of Perez are in the Hall of Fame."
Just as he has a case as the best Royal, Perez has a strong Hall of Fame case: nine-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, five-time Gold Glove winner, 2015 World Series MVP, World Series champion, and a Roberto Clemente Award.
Unfortunately, the past decade of Perez's career has been seeped in losing. The Royals have only reached the playoffs once since winning the 2015 World Series, losing to the New York Yankees in the 2024 American League Division Series. Currently, the Royals are 45-62 — the sixth-worst record in MLB — and well outside the playoff race.
Perez signed a two-year contract last November. While this season is lost, there's still a chance he could go out playing competitive baseball in 2027, assuming it's his last.
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