Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez wins 2024 Roberto Clemente Award, a 1st for KC
Salvador Perez often expresses his deep love for the Kansas City community.
The veteran catcher is beloved by Royals fans and celebrated for his on-field contributions. Many also laud his philanthropic work as his community impact spans across two continents, including his home country of Venezuela.
Perez enjoys helping those in need, and his courageous leadership has been felt around the organization. And his selfless gratitude accompanies a humble demeanor instilled by his mother and grandmother at a young age.
On Monday, Major League Baseball honored Perez for his longstanding dedication to the local community.
In a special announcement, Perez was named the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award recipient. He is the first Royals player to receive the prestigious honor.
“(It means) a lot,” Perez said. “I was talking to my mom the other day, and to win a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger and make it to the All-Star Game is pretty cool. I think (after winning) a World Series, this award is the second-best award I’ve ever won.”
The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes an MLB player who best displays the values that Clemente exhibited to his community and the commitment of helping others.
Perez was selected by a panel including Clemente’s children: Enrique, Luis and Roberto Clemente Jr. Fans were able to assist in the voting in September.
The Royals chose Perez as their Roberto Clemente Award nominee this season. It was his third nomination in four years.
“The Royals are in this business to win baseball games, but it’s much more than that,” Royals owner John Sherman said in a news release. “Having an impact on a community is a big part of our mission, and Salvy is leading that charge for us.”
Perez is the heartbeat of the Royals organization. He is embedded in the local communities of Kansas City, Venezuela and Colombia.
As a young player, Perez expanded his knowledge of Clemente alongside Royals ESL and Latin American initiatives coordinator Monica Ramirez. Perez learned about Clemente’s humanitarian efforts and sought to follow a similar path.
“I remember back when he was 16, we would read the biography of Clemente,” Ramirez said. “And many players, you know, wouldn’t know who that was and we talked about it. Eighteen years later, he wins the award. It’s well deserved.”
Throughout his career, Perez has partnered with multiple charitable groups. He works with Sarah’s Soldiers to raise money and awareness towards finding a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Perez also partnered with Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer and pledged a $1 million foundational donation to the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy.
The Kansas City Urban Youth Academy has welcomed over 60,000 youth since its inception in 2018. This summer, Perez hosted over 100 kids for a baseball clinic and discussion about the importance of education and health.
Perez continues his humanitarian efforts in his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela. He regularly distributes food and home supplies to those in need. Perez also assists with the Carlos Fortuna Foundation in Colombia.
“I know where I come from,” Perez said. “Everything starts where I come from and, when you make it to this level, you have the opportunity to help people.”
Perez finds time to spend with the next generation, too.
He annually donates toys to children’s hospitals and has paid for surgeries of kids with a cleft lip. He also founded a youth league in Venezuela and spent his off-day playing Wiffle ball with a few young Royals fans.
“You know, all these kids come to me and their parents say I changed their son’s life,” Perez said. “You know how cool that is when people tell you that? I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, thank God, I think I am doing my job right.’ So that is pretty cool.”
Perez is slated to receive the award prior to Game 3 in a news conference before Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium.
Major League Baseball renamed the Commissioner’s Award to honor Roberto Clemente in 1973. Perez joins 20 Hall of Famers such as David Ortiz, Derek Jeter and Willie Mays as Roberto Clemente Award winners.
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge won the award last season.
“(Perez) is a great teammate and great leader,” Royals outfielder MJ Melendez said. “It’s something a lot of us young guys can look up to and aspire to be.”
In September, Perez had a special tribute on Roberto Clemente Day. He wore unique catching gear that recognized the MLB legend. The Royals played the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, and Perez wore No. 21 in the game.
Perez met with Clemente’s children as well. After the weekend series, Perez donated his catching gear to the Clemente Museum.
“I remember people asking me who made that gear,” Perez said. “It’s super amazing and I appreciate Rawlings for that. It’s super exciting now and even better to go to the museum and see my chest protector there, my picture and everything. Now, winning this award is even better and it makes me feel so happy.”
Perez now adds another milestone to his potential Hall of Fame résumé.
This season, Perez made his ninth All-Star Game, hit his 250th career home run and eclipsed 900 career RBIs. The Royals also helped Perez return to the postseason for the first time since the 2015 campaign.
While Perez is grateful for all his accolades, the Roberto Clemente Award is the perfect icing on the cake.
“I’m super excited, as it means a lot to me,” Perez said. “I read a lot about Roberto Clemente and I know he was an amazing player. I think he was even better outside of the field. That is what made him super special and makes this award super special.”
This story was originally published October 28, 2024 at 8:45 AM with the headline "Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez wins 2024 Roberto Clemente Award, a 1st for KC."
