Salvador Perez has resume most baseball players would envy – All-Star appearances, Gold Gloves, Silver Slugger Awards, and a World Series MVP. Now he can add one more accomplishment to his list – all-time Royals home run champ.
Salvy jumped on a hanging breaking ball from Kyle Finnegan and deposited it into the left field stands at Comerica Park in Detroit, the 318th home run of his career.
The home run surpasses George Brett for the most in club history. George needed 2,707 games to reach the mark. Salvy did it in 1,805.
After he hit the record, George had a message for hm.
The nine-time All-Star is also just seven home runs away from passing Gary Carter and Lance Parrish for fifth-most home runs by a player who spent more than half his games behind the plate.
Here are some fun facts about his home runs:
- His first career home run came on August 29, 2011 in Detroit against Max Scherzer.
- He has hit 141 home runs at Kauffman Stadium – more than any other player.
- The other top stadiums he has hit home runs in are Target Field (23), Guaranteed Rate Field (20), Comerica Park (17) and Progressive Field (12). Nationals Park is the only active stadium he has played a game in but not homered.
- He has homered off Lucas Giolito and J.A. Happ the most, with five each.
- He has homered off 14 Cy Young winners.
- 225 home runs have come off right-handers, 92 against lefties
- He has 242 home runs as a catcher, 59 as DH, and 17 as a first baseman.
- The sixth inning is the inning he has hit his most home runs – 51.
- 162 home runs have come with the bases empty. He has six career grand slams.
- He has three career walk off home runs (September 15, 2012 vs. the Angels, September 14, 2018 vs. the Twins, April 17, 2021 vs. the Blue Jays)
From all of us at Royals Review, congratulations Salvador Perez, truly a Royals all-time great!
