Salvador Johan Pérez Díaz (born May 10, 1990), nicknamed "Salvy", is a Venezuelan-American professional baseball catcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is an eight-time MLB All-Star, five-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. On the international level, he represents the Venezuelan national team.
Pérez holds the single-season MLB record for most home runs as a primary catcher with 48, surpassing Johnny Bench, who hit 45 during the 1970 season.
Early life
Pérez was born in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. He was abandoned by his father at age four and raised by his mother, Yilda Díaz. When he was eight years old, the two relocated to Valencia to live with Yilda's mother, Carmen de Díaz. Yilda supported the family by selling homemade cakes, flan, and lasagna.
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. Pérez played with and against current Major Leaguer and fellow Venezuelan second baseman José Altuve during his boyhood.
Professional career
Minor Leagues
Pérez was signed by the Royals for $65,000 when he was 16 years old. His minor league career began in 2007 when he was placed in the Arizona Complex League. In 2008 and 2009, Pérez played for the Burlington Royals and Idaho Falls Chukars. In 2010, Pérez was promoted to the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. In 2011, Pérez was promoted again, and played for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals and the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals
2011
Pérez was called up to the majors for the first time on August 10, 2011, and debuted against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. He picked off two baserunners, caught five popups – both uncommon occurrences for the Royals that season – recorded his first RBI in the 4th inning, and first hit in the 7th inning. 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/.361/.473 with 3 home runs and 21 runs driven in, in 39 games played.
2012
On February 27, 2012, Pérez signed a five-year, $7 million extension that included three club options and placed him under team control through 2019. His earning potential was up to $26.75 million if he reached all of his incentives and all of his options were picked up. The extension covered 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. Pérez earned $750,000 in 2012, $1 million in 2013, $1.5 million in 2014, $1.75 million in 2015 and $2 million in 2016. His options were $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. He did not return until July 2. In the 2012 season, he hit .301/.328/.471 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs in 79 games played.
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. He finished the year playing 138 games with a .292/.323/.433 average, 13 home runs, and 79 RBI.
2014
In 2014, he logged more starts (143) than any other catcher in the Major Leagues. Pérez played in 150 games in 2014, batting .260/.289/.403 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.
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.
2015
In 2015, Pérez was voted to start in the 2015 All-Star Game, his third All-Star appearance.