Royals’ Salvador Perez joins list of legends with latest historical achievement

By Pete Grathoff

Updated July 24, 2025 12:27 PM

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.

Salvador Perez hit his 18th home run, leading all Royals hitters this season.
Perez became the sixth AL player with 300+ interleague hits vs. NL teams.
With 291 career homers, Perez nears elite milestone reached by 8 catchers.

Chicago

The Royals returned home Wednesday following an 8-4 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, but you couldn’t have blamed Salvador Perez for wanting to stick around in the Windy City.

Perez had two hits Wednesday, including his team-best 18th home run of the season. It was his sixth home run in 14 career games at the so-called Friendly Confines.

“I hope I can do the same thing hitting everywhere,” Perez said. “You know, it’s nothing different. I just try to do my job.”

To wit, it didn’t take a trip to Chicago to bring out the best in Perez. He’s been on a serious hot streak. The home run was his fifth in as many games and he’s hit nine in his last 12.

Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, designated hitter Salvador Perez and second baseman Adam Frazier celebrate Pasquantino’s two-run homer against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. David Banks Imagn Images

Perez has reached base in 13 consecutive games and is batting .422 with three doubles and 13 RBIs in that span.

The home run Wednesday was No. 291 for Perez. Only eight primary catchers have hit 300 home runs in their career.

That statistical highlight could come later this season, but he reached one other notable mark Wednesday.

Kansas City Royals designated hitter Salvador Perez was greeted by teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Wrigley Field. David Banks Imagn Images

Perez has 301 hits in his career against National League opponents and is the sixth player in American League history to reach that milestone in interleague play.

The others are all baseball legends: Derek Jeter (364), Jose Altuve (337), Miguel Cabrera (333), Alex Rodriguez (325) and Ichiro Suzuki (322).

Although he torched the Cubs this week, Perez did a little goodwill work, too. After clubbing a pair of homers on Monday, he gave a bat to two young Chicago fans.