Kansas City Royals star Salvador Perez set a major league record for homers in a season by a team’s primary catcher after belting a two-run shot in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians on Monday.
Perez’s towering blast in the fifth inning served as his 46th homer of the season, moving him past Hall of Famer Johnny Bench for the record. Bench had 45 homers for the Cincinnati Reds in 1970.
“It was unbelievable,” said Perez. “I thank God for this. It’s amazing.”
Perez’s homer gave Kansas City a 7-0 lead in a game the Royals won 7-2. Perez, 31, went 2-for-4 in the contest and raised his RBI total to a career-best 115, tops in the majors through the first game of the twin bill.
“For a guy who’s so respected in this clubhouse, it was different than your normal home run,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “You could see the look on Salvy’s face. He’ll never forget it.”
The seven-time All-Star has obliterated his previous career highs for home runs and RBIs, which had been 27 for homers and 80 for runs driven home (done twice each, in 2017 and 2018).
