Salvador Pérez

Profile Overview

Salvador Johan Perez Diaz (born May 10, 1990), nicknamed "El Niño" and "Salvy", is a Venezuelan-American professional baseball catcher, designated hitter, and first baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a nine-time MLB All-Star, five-time Gold Glove Award winner, five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, three-time All-MLB selection, Roberto Clemente Award winner, and received the World Series Most Valuable Player Award when the Royals won the 2015 World Series. Perez has played his entire career with the Royals, and was named the team's captain in 2023.
Perez played catcher almost exclusively for the first eleven years of his career before problems with his knees required him to spend time away from the position in favor of first base and designated hitter starting in 2023.
From 2021 to 2025, Perez held the single-season MLB record for most home runs by a primary catcher with 48, until he was surpassed by the Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh. The mark is tied for the Royals' single season home run record (alongside Jorge Soler). He also holds the Royals' franchise record for career home runs (319), and is one of eight primary catchers in MLB history to hit 300 home runs.
Internationally, Perez represents Venezuela. At the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he was captain of the team which won Venezuela's first WBC championship.