Royals’ Salvador Perez quietly (but really loudly) showed his leadership Wednesday
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Salvador Perez yelled from the dugout to encourage reliever Luinder Avila.
- Perez acted as a vocal leader while serving as the Royals’ designated hitter.
- Broadcasters and analysts praised Perez’s responsibility for guiding young pitchers.
Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre heard it right away.
After left-hander Cole Ragans exited Wednesday night’s game because of tricep and elbow soreness after just three innings, Luinder Avila took over and ran into trouble in the fifth inning.
Avila walked the Guardians’ Austin Hedges, then fell behind in the count to Petey Halpin.
From the dugout came the booming voice of Royals captain Salvador Perez, who was the designated hitter. Elías Díaz was catching and trying to encourage Avila.
“I don’t know if you heard it or not. I did only because I know what Salvy’s voice sounds like,” Lefebvre said on the broadcast. “And he’s the DH tonight, but he’s not taking swings in the cage. He’s yelling from the Royals dugout to encourage Avila to get into the strike zone.”
Analyst Jeremy Guthrie added: “That’s the advantage the Captain has. He knows every one of these pitchers as well as anybody. Díaz just recently coming over, getting called up. So it’s like, Salvy feels that responsibility. It’s kind of his flock, if you will. Shepherds them. Knows what it takes to get them right.
“And I appreciate that. I’ve been on that mound and struggling much worse than this to find the strike zone. And you rely on that catcher. ... Salvy is gonna work his way down towards the front of the dugout, cheerlead from this spot.”
Lefebvre noted: “He’s gonna go talk to (pitching coach) Brian Sweeney.”
The broadcasters thought Perez, who turns 36 on Sunday, would make a mound visit if he could. But Perez was sharing his insights with Sweeney.
“He is some kind of intense right now,” Lefebvre said. “Think these games still matter to him this late in his career?”
Guthrie said: “Absolutely. Every single one of them matters to him.”
A fan caught part of Perez quietly showing his leadership but in a loud manner from the Royals dugout. This is cool.
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Royals’ Salvador Perez quietly (but really loudly) showed his leadership Wednesday."
