Royals Legend Makes History
Salvador Perez Ties Royals Home Run Record, Leads Rally to Complete Sweep Against Giants
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Key Points
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Steven Cruz earned his first career save in the win.
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In the seventh, Vinnie Pasquantino opened the inning with a double and a tag call on second by Willy Adames helped spark the rally, setting up the Royals to load the bases before Lane Thomas delivered the go-ahead two-run single.
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Perez entered the game with 14 homers on the season and is batting .211 with 43 RBIs in 95 games, continuing a stretch of productive seasons.
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Perez has spent all 15 of his major league seasons with the Royals, underscoring his longevity and loyalty to Kansas City.
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Context on franchise HR history: Jorge Soler set the Royals' single-season home run record with 48 in 2019, a mark Perez later tied in 2021 with 48, highlighting Perez’s place among the Royals’ historic home-run leaders.
Salvador Perez hit his 317th career home run on Tuesday, tying the Kansas City Royals' all-time franchise record. The 437-foot, two-run blast sparked a five-run seventh inning that lifted the Royals to a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants, completing a three-game sweep at Kauffman Stadium. KOMU reported that Lane Thomas delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the same inning to seal the victory.
Perez's homer ties him with Hall of Famer George Brett for the most home runs in Royals history, according to Idaho State Journal. The milestone is a rare bright spot in a tough season for Kansas City, which sits near the bottom of the AL Central with a 43-60 record.
One Swing Rewrites Royals History Books
Perez stepped to the plate in the seventh inning with Kansas City trailing 3-0. He crushed a two-run shot 437 feet, cutting the Giants' lead to 3-2. The home run was his 14th of the season and the 317th of his career, matching George Brett's franchise record, Idaho Statesman noted.
Brett is a Baseball Hall of Famer and one of the most beloved players in Royals history. Perez now stands alongside him as the franchise's all-time home run co-leader. The moment is historic for a team that has leaned on Perez as its cornerstone for 15 seasons.
Five-Run Seventh Inning Stuns San Francisco
The Royals didn't stop at Perez's homer. Vinnie Pasquantino opened the inning with a double. Then a disputed tag call on second base against Willy Adames helped Kansas City load the bases, according to News Tribune. The rally kept building from there.
Lane Thomas then hit a two-run single to give the Royals a 4-3 lead. Kansas City added another run to make it 5-3. Steven Cruz came on to close things out, earning his first career save in the 5-4 final, Head Topics reported.
Perez Remains Kansas City's Steadiest Veteran at 36
Perez is 36 years old and in his 15th season — all with the Royals. He is a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove winner at catcher. This season he is batting .211 with 43 RBIs in 95 games. Those numbers are modest, but his power and presence keep him central to Kansas City's lineup.
Perez also tied Jorge Soler's Royals single-season home run record of 48 back in 2021, Idaho Statesman noted. That places him among the most productive home run hitters in franchise history. In a season full of injuries and slumps, Perez's consistency has been the team's most reliable constant.
Royals Eye the Record Outright as Season Continues
Perez has not yet broken the record — he is tied with Brett at 317. Every at-bat from here is a chance to make history on his own. Kansas City still has significant games left in the season, giving Perez real opportunities to move ahead of Brett.
For a Royals team struggling in the AL Central, Perez's chase gives fans something concrete to follow. His loyalty to one franchise over 15 years is rare in today's game. KOMU noted that the milestone underscores just how deeply Perez's legacy is tied to Kansas City.
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