Ten Years of Salvy

On September 27, 2006, the Kansas City Royals signed a 16-year-old Venezuelan for $65,000. He grew up playing third base, though his defense was lackluster. "Malo" as he admitted later. The Royals tried him out at catcher because they liked his combination of a big frame and quickness. Ten years later, Salvador Perez is a three-time All-Star, World Series MVP, professional Gatorade Cooler splasher, and the heart of a franchise.

As he quickly ascended the rungs of the Kansas City minor league system, his reputation grew as one of the best catchers in the Minor Leagues. He earned the Royals' Frank White Award in 2009, given to the best defensive player overall in the Kansas City farm system. He also earned All-Star honors from the Carolina League (2010) and Texas League (2011) on his way up the ladder.

Baseball America also recognized him as the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Royals organization for three consecutive seasons from 2009-11. Prior to the 2011 campaign when Kansas City's minor league system was hailed as the best in baseball by many, the publication had Perez at No. 17.

Their 2011 Prospect Handbook also said of Perez "He already was the best defensive catcher in the system, and he now shows as much offensive potential as any Royals backstop prospect besides [Wil] Myers...Perez does a good job of framing pitches, handling velocity and calling a game. He makes consistent contact and has some gap power."

Exactly four years and ten months after signing with the Royals, Perez made his Triple-A debut with the Omaha Storm Chasers on July 27, 2011. He made a nice first impression with a double in his first game, picking off a runner at first base as well, which proved to foreshadow what was to come. Two days later, he smashed a grand slam and drove in five runs against the Albuquerque Isotopes.

He went hitless in his next seven at-bats before slapping 13 knocks over 29 at-bats, giving enough evidence to show Kansas City that he was ready for The Show. On August 10, 2011, Perez was called up and made his Major League debut, memorably picking off two runners in his first action behind the plate in a Big League contest. All in all it was an outstanding first season for Perez, batting .331 (49-148) in 39 contests, adding three homers and 21 RBI.

After tearing the meniscus in his left knee during Spring Training in 2012, Perez returned to Omaha as part of his rehab coming back from injury. In his first game of action on June 7, he collected two hits. The very next day he tallied five knocks and scored four runs. His final game in a Storm Chasers uniform was a memorable one as well, recording four hits and three runs on June 20 before returning to Kansas City.

He would go on to play in 138 games in 2013, being named to his first All-Star Game while earning his first of three consecutive Gold Glove Awards. He has earned American League All-Star nods in each of his last four seasons.

Perez helped the Royals to their second World Series Championship in franchise history in 2015 and was recognized as World Series Most Valuable Player after batting .364 (8-22) with three runs, two doubles and two RBI while starting all five games behind the plate.

Through 680 games in his career with Kansas City, he has accumulated a .273 batting average (694-2545), adding 272 runs, 130 doubles, nine triples, 87 homers and 342 RBI. And he is signed to be with the team for a little while longer thanks to his five-year contract extension he signed before the 2016 season.

After inking that deal, the heart and soul of the Kansas City Royals is under contract through the 2021 season.