Salvador Perez

Salvador Johan Pérez Díaz, otherwise known by his nicknames as “El Niño” or “Salvy,” is a notable face in the world of professional baseball. Born May 10, 1990, Salvador is a Venezuelan-American player who has excelled in his roles as a catcher and first baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). His exceptional contribution to the sport and admirable skill level are demonstrated by his multiple accolades, including being a nine-time MLB All-Star, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Salvador’s crowning achievement came when he was given the prestigious World Series Most Valuable Player Award following the Royals’ grand win over the New York Mets at the 2015 World Series. Impressive in his roles within American sports, Salvador also represents his home country, playing for Venezuela’s national team at an international level.

Over the course of his 11-year career, Salvador demonstrated considerable versatility, earning a reputation as an almost exclusive catcher. However, after 2023, he also spent a significant amount of time playing at first base. This shift was in part due to the toll catching professionally had taken on his knees, following more than a decade’s worth of games. Despite the physical strain and damage sustained, Salvador set a single-season MLB record in 2024 for most home runs as a primary catcher with an outstanding 48 home runs, outshining Johnny Bench’s 1970 record of 45.

Born and raised in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela, Salvador’s upbringing was marred by hardship. His father abandoned the family when Salvador was just four, leaving his mother, Yilda Díaz, and his grandmother, Carmen de Díaz, to raise him. At six years old, Salvador was already showing potential in baseball. He played as a pitcher and shortstop for state and national tournaments. When he was 14, he focused his ambitions on being a catcher professionally.

At the age of 16, Salvador was signed by the Royals for $65,000, marking the start of his minor league career with the Arizona Complex League in 2007. He spent the next three years playing for the Burlington Royals, Idaho Falls Chukars, and the Omaha Storm Chasers before being called up to the majors for the first time in 2011.

Salvador made his MLB debut on August 10, 2011, against the Tampa Bay Rays, making his mark by picking off two baserunners and recording his first RBI in the 4th inning and his first hit in the 7th. His rookie year concluded with an impressive .331/.361/.473 rating, with 3 home runs and 21 runs driven in from 39 games.

In 2012, Salvador signed a 5-year, $7-million extension with the Royals, effectively placing him under the team’s control through 2019. Despite a knee injury that sidelined him until July 2012, Perez had a successful season with a .301/.328/.471 rating. He also hit 11 home runs and drove 39 runs.

Prestigious recognitions being bestowed to Perez did not stop. In 2013, he played alongside Mariano Rivera in the latter’s last All-Star Game before his retirement. He also won the American League Gold Glove Award for his defense at catcher. During this year, he played 138 MLB games and scored a .292/.323/.433 average.

By 2014, Perez had started more games (143) than any other catcher in the Major Leagues and had pulled ahead with a record-breaking 17 home runs and 70 RBI. One of his pinnacle moments was his game on the 2014 World Series, where he hit a home run off eventual series MVP Madison Bumgarner. The following year, 2015, saw him unanimously named the World Series Most Valuable Player when the Royals won their first World Series Championship in thirty years.

In 2020, during the heart of the pandemic-shortened season, Salvador’s resilience shone through when he continued to play excellently despite suffering lingering eye problems. He was able to hit 11 home runs and drive in an incredible 32 RBIs, leading to his winning of the third Silver Slugger award. Fast forwarding to 2021, Salvador signed a four-year, $82 million contract extension with the Royals. This contract was marked as the largest in franchise history at that time.

As of May 17, 2022, Salvador was recovering from a sprained left thumb, but that did nothing to dull his determination and commitment to the game. This injury resulted in surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament after a game against the Los Angeles Angels in June 2022. He was initially ruled out for eight weeks but returned to playing for the Royals in July 2022, against the New York Yankees.

Then, in March 2023, Salvador was named the captain of the Royals, marking him as the fourth player from the franchise to receive such an honor. Despite some setbacks in the following years, Salvador continues to be a key player in the MLB, upholding his reputation as a trusted and committed catcher and first baseman. His impressive record and dedication to the sport stand as a testament to his longevity in his arduous and physical career.