C Perez signs extension with Royals
The contract includes five guaranteed years through the 2016 season, then club options for each of the following three seasons: 2017, 2018 and 2019. Consistent with club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The 21-year-old from Valencia, Venezuela, made his Major League debut last year on August 10 and hit .331 (49-for-148) with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, 21 RBI and 20 runs scored in 39 games as the Royals starting catcher. His .374 average from August 21 through the remainder of the season was the fourth-highest in baseball. Known as a strong defensive catcher and game caller, Perez was named the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Royals minor league system by Baseball America in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He was originally signed by Kansas City as a non-drafted free agent on September 27, 2006.
Perez batted .283 with nine homers and 43 RBI in 79 games with the Naturals in 2011, during which he caught 48% of the runners attempting to steal on him, a figure which led the Texas League. He made his major league debut after a short stay in Triple-A Omaha.
He becomes the first alumni of the Naturals franchise to ink a long-term big league deal after reaching the major leagues.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.