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Salvador Pérez

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For the Spanish soccer player born Salvador Pérez Martínez, see Salva Chamorro.

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Salvador Pérez
Pérez with the Kansas City Royals in 2015
Kansas City Royals – No. 13
Catcher
Born: (1990-05-10) May 10, 1990 (age 34)
Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 10, 2011, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through July 28, 2017)
Batting average.274
Hits793
Home runs108
Runs batted in406
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Salvador Johan Pérez Diaz (born May 10, 1990) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a five-time MLB All-Star, four-time Gold Glove Award winner, and received the World Series Most Valuable Player Award when the Royals won the 2015 World Series over the New York Mets.

Early life

Pérez was born in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. He was abandoned by his father at age four and raised by his mother, Yilda Diaz. When he was eight years old, the two relocated to Valencia to live with Yilda's mother, Carmen de Diaz. Yilda supported the family by selling homemade cakes, flan, and lasagna.[1]

To keep her only child busy, Yilda enrolled him in a baseball school in Valencia, where he showed an ability to throw, catch, and hit balls as young as age six. He played pitcher and shortstop with teams competing in state and national tournaments. At age eight, he indicated his preference to play catcher, and, at 14, set his mind to playing that position professionally.[1] Pérez played with and against current Major Leaguer and fellow Venezuelan second baseman José Altuve during his boyhood.[2]

Professional career

Minor Leagues

Pérez was signed by the Royals for $65,000 when he was 16 years old.[3] His minor league career began in 2007 when he was placed in the Arizona Rookie League.[3]

Kansas City Royals

2011

Pérez was called up to the majors for the first time on August 10, 2011.[4] He picked off two baserunners, caught five popups – both uncommon occurrences for the Royals that season – and recorded his first hit.[1] On August 29, Pérez hit his first Major League home run against Max Scherzer of the Detroit Tigers. In that game, Pérez was a triple away from hitting for the cycle. In his rookie year, he batted .331 with 3 HRs and 21 runs driven in, in 39 games played.

2012

On February 27, 2012, Pérez signed a five-year, $7 million extension that includes three club options. He is under team control through 2019. He could earn up to $26.75 million if he reaches all of his incentives and all of his options are picked up. The extension covers his pre-arbitration seasons, two of his three arbitration eligible years, and, if all of his options are picked up, his final arbitration year and his first two years of free agency.[5] Pérez earned $.75 million in 2012, $1 million in 2013, $1.5 million in 2014, $1.75 million in 2015 and will earn $2 million in 2016. His options are $3.75 million in 2017, $5 million in 2018 and $6 million in 2019.

While catching a bullpen session before a spring training game in 2012, Pérez tore the meniscus in his left knee.[6] He did not return until July 2. In the 2012 season, he hit .301 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs in 79 games played.

Pérez (right) and Ervin Santana with the Kansas City Royals in 2013

2013

On July 16, 2013, Pérez was the catcher for Mariano Rivera in Rivera's final All-Star Game before retirement. After the season, Pérez was awarded the American League Gold Glove Award for his defense at catcher.[7] He finished the year playing 138 games with a .292 batting average, 13 home runs, and 79 RBI.

2014

In 2014, he logged more starts (143) than any other catcher in the Major Leagues.[8] Pérez played 150 games all together in 2014 batting .260 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs, and 70 RBI.

In the 2014 American League Wild Card Playoff, Pérez singled down the left field line in the bottom of the 12th inning, knocking in the winning run to lift the Royals over the Oakland As 9–8.[9]

In Game 1 of the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, Pérez hit a home run off eventual series MVP Madison Bumgarner, representing the only run given up by Bumgarner in five World Series appearances covering 36 innings. Pérez was the final out of the series, popping out to Pablo Sandoval in foul territory to clinch the series for the Giants.[10]

2015

Pérez batting in 2015 American League Division Series

In 2015, Pérez was voted to start in the 2015 All-Star Game, his third All-Star appearance.[11]

Pérez batted .364 in the 2015 World Series, which the Royals won in five games. In the Series-clinching win, Perez grounded to third in the ninth inning allowing the tying run in the Royals' comeback. The game continued into extra innings. In the 12th, Perez singled to right with no outs and Jarrod Dyson pinch ran for Perez. Dyson would eventually score, giving the Royals their first lead of the night. The Royals won 7–2 in the twelfth inning, making them the 2015 World Series Champions.[12] Pérez was unanimously named the World Series Most Valuable Player.[13] He is the first catcher to win the award since 1992 and the second Venezuelan to win World Series MVP.[14] He won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award in 2015.[15]

2016

On March 1, Pérez signed a five-year extension to remain with the team.[16] Perez was named to his fifth consecutive All-Star Game as the starting catcher for the American League along with teammate Eric Hosmer. Pérez would finish the 2016 season with 22 home runs, more than any other American League catcher en route to his first career Silver Slugger award. Pérez won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove Award on November 8th.

2017

On August 6, Perez was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to an intercostal strain.[17]

Personal life

Near the end of the 2013 season, teammate Alcides Escobar sprayed Pérez with Victoria's Secret women's perfume and he had four hits. Pérez continued to wear perfume during games as a good-luck charm, switching to 212 VIP cologne by Carolina Herrera in 2014.[3][18]

Pérez is also well known for giving a Gatorade shower ("Salvy Splash") to teammates during television interviews after every home win and notable away wins.[19][20]

Pérez delighted fans with his positive attitude and humorous postings on social media. In the 2014 and 2015 season, Pérez made a habit of playfully pestering teammate Lorenzo Cain by taking videos of him and posting them on Instagram.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Kaegel, Dick (September 22, 2011). "Mom's support has Perez on Royals' fast track". MLB.com. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  2. ^ Snyder, Matt (July 14, 2014). "From childhood friends to AL All-Stars: Salvador Perez, Jose Altuve". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Kepner, Tyler (October 21, 2014). "Lights, Catcher, Action!". The New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  4. ^ Kaegel, Dick (August 10, 2011). "Perez, catcher of the future, called on by Royals". MLB.com. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  5. ^ Dutton, Bob (February 27, 2012). "Royals sign catcher Perez to five-year extension worth $7 million". Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Royals' Perez has surgery to repair torn meniscus". Associated Press. March 16, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  7. ^ "2013 Kansas City Royals Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  8. ^ "Salvador Perez the rock behind Royals' pitching staff". USA Today. October 28, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  9. ^ Tayler, Jon (October 1, 2014). "Watch: Perez gives Royals walk-off win over A's in Wild Card Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  10. ^ Waldstein, David (October 29, 2014). "Bumgarner, a Three-Ring Master, Leads San Francisco to Its Third Title in Five Seasons". The New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  11. ^ "Royals". kansascity. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  12. ^ "Kansas City Royals vs. New York Mets – Play By Play – November 01, 2015 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  13. ^ Fox Sports. "Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez named World Series MVP". FOX Sports. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  14. ^ "Royals' Perez MVP with 'no pain,' .364 average". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  15. ^ Miller, Doug (November 10, 2015). "Defensive standouts nab Gold Glove Awards". MLB.com. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  16. ^ Perez, A.J. (March 1, 2016). "Royals, catcher Salvador Perez agree to a 5-year extension". USA TODAY Sports. Retrieved March 1, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ Alexander, Wilson. "Salvador Perez placed on DL with intercostal strain". MLB. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  18. ^ "Salvador Perez sticks with perfume". Associated Press. October 24, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  19. ^ Smith, DeAnn; Fanning, Brad. "Royals catcher Salvy Perez's post-game celebrations make big splash". kctv5.com. KCTV. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  20. ^ Rittman, Emily; Pimentel, Donovan. "Perez's Gatorade baths are keeping one dry cleaner busy". kctv5.com. KCTV. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  21. ^ "Royals Catcher Salvador Perez Loves Annoying Lorenzo Cain". Deadspin. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
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