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20m ago

Salvador Perez Becomes Royals' All-Time Home Run Leader

The 318th long ball cements a decades-spanning career, prompting the Royals to reevaluate playing time and offseason options.

Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) celebrates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Perez hit his 318th career homer off Tigers pitcher Kyle Finnegan to move past George Brett, and that shot is his 15th of the season.
  • The record tops a mark Brett held for about 40 years and places Perez alongside the franchise’s most celebrated figures.
  • A nine-time All-Star who debuted in 2011, Perez has shown sustained power with a 48-homer season in 2021 and a 30-homer, 100-RBI season in 2025.
  • Kansas City has shifted Perez toward a reduced catching role behind Carter Jensen while also adding reliever Nate Pearson as bullpen depth ahead of the trade deadline.
  • Perez is eligible for free agency after this season, a factor that will shape the Royals’ short-term lineup choices and offseason planning for the veteran catcher.