KANSAS CITY -- George Brett and Salvador Perez are the two faces that have defined the two best eras of Royals baseball across the 58-season history of this club, from the championships they’ve won, to the All-Star Games they’ve played in, to the thousands of innings they’ve both logged with Kansas City across their chests.
It’s only right they now share one of the most meaningful records in franchise history -- even if the tie doesn’t last for long.
The two-run home run Perez hit in the seventh inning of the Royals’ 5-4 win over the Giants on Wednesday was Perez’s 317th of his career, matching Brett’s record for the most home runs in franchise history, a record that Brett has had sole possession of for 40 years, ever since he passed Amos Otis with his 194th home run on April 9, 1986.
“That was a super exciting moment,” Perez said. “Especially doing it here in Kansas City. I love the fans here. Kansas City is my second home.”
Brett retired in 1993, making 317 home runs the number to chase. To do so would take another franchise icon, one who not only demonstrated longevity in a game that is trending younger and younger, but also one who would make Kansas City home for his entire career.
Perez is all of that and more. The Valencia, Venezuela, native signed with this organization at 16 years old, debuted at 21 years old in 2011 and has been here since as the heart and soul of so many Royals teams. Perez is a nine-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner, a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, the 2015 World Series MVP, the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award winner and the fourth captain in Royals history.
“I love that guy,” manager Matt Quatraro said with tears in his eyes. “What he does, the way he goes about it, the passion he plays the game -- it’s unrivaled. The guy’s a Hall of Famer, and you’re getting to witness it.”
With Vinnie Pasquantino on second base in the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday, Perez launched a sinker from Giants starter Landen Roupp a Statcast-projected 437 feet out to the fountains in right-center field at Kauffman Stadium. The milestone home run was a tremendous display of strength, and a swing the Royals needed to rally.
Perez said he wasn’t trying to think about a homer, but how could he not be? As he’s marched toward history, he’s reminded every day of the record. But it’s been a difficult year for the 36-year-old, who is hitting .211 with a .621 OPS, and the Royals are 43-60 in a year they had high expectations.
After a sweep of the Giants, though, they’ve won five of six games out of the break, and Perez is starting to feel it at the plate, with three homers in his last five games.
In the moment, he was just trying to “keep the line moving” to get some runs on the board, which encapsulates the way Perez has played during his 15-year career: always trying to win.
Perez watched it fly, and once it landed over the fence, he raised his right arm in the air and celebrated as he rounded the bases. The crowd at The K erupted, and so did his teammates. Once Perez crossed home plate, he made his way through the dugout, congratulated by every person in there, and then stepped back out onto the field to acknowledge the crowd for a curtain call.
“I think you’re just so happy that he did it at home in front of the people that have been supportive his whole career,” said center fielder Lane Thomas, who provided the go-ahead knock later in the seventh.
Perez blew kisses to his mom, wife and kids in the stands and looked around the entire stadium as a way to say thank you to the fans and the organization.
“All the sacrifices I’ve [made], all the sacrifices my family, my mom [made],” Perez said. “Where I come from, you never expect that. My teammates. Great organization of the Kansas City Royals. I thank them for giving me the opportunity to sign when I was 16.
“... Hopefully I got more.”
Perez’s 317 career home runs are the third most among active players who have hit all their home runs with the same team, trailing only Mike Trout (422 with the Angels) and Aaron Judge (385 with the Yankees).
When Perez breaks the tie, he will become the third active player to own his current team’s all-time home run record, joining Trout and Manny Machado (216 with the Padres).
For now, Brett and Perez stand together atop the list.
“I don’t want any of my records to be broken, to be honest with you,” Brett said last month with a laugh. “But he’s a home run hitter -- that record is going to be broken, there’s no doubt in my mind. It just means that he’s been here for a long time, he’s been a very productive player, and if anybody was going to break it, I’m glad it’s him.”