Salvador Perez Royals record: 318th homer passes George Brett
Salvador Perez hit No. 318 for Kansas City, moving past George Brett as the Royals beat the Tigers 3-2 in Detroit.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Salvador Perez Royals record night arrived with one swing in Detroit, where the Kansas City catcher hit his 318th career home run for the franchise and moved past George Brett, the Associated Press reported.
The milestone came Saturday in the Royals’ 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, according to the AP and the game listing. Perez’s homer tied the game in the seventh inning before Kansas City finished off the one-run victory.
According to the AP, Kansas City trailed 2-1 when Perez opened the seventh against Detroit pitcher Kyle Finnegan. Perez sent a 401-foot drive beyond the Tigers’ bullpen in left field, giving the Royals’ longtime star the franchise mark by himself.
The crowd in Detroit acknowledged the achievement after the record was announced at Comerica Park, the AP reported.
What record did Salvador Perez break?
Perez broke the Kansas City Royals’ franchise record for home runs, a mark George Brett had held for 40 years. A franchise record is the top mark achieved by a player while with that team, so Perez’s 318 home runs count only his homers as a Royal.
Brett had taken over the Royals’ home run lead on April 9, 1986, when he hit his 194th homer to pass Amos Otis, according to the AP. Perez has now carried the record to a new number with 318.
The homer also added another entry to Perez’s long history against Detroit. The AP reported it was his 31st career home run against the Tigers, his second-highest total against any opponent.
Perez has hit more against only the Minnesota Twins, with 36 career homers against them, according to the AP.
Where does Perez rank among active one-team sluggers?
Among active players who have spent their careers with one club, Perez’s 318 home runs for the Royals rank third, the AP reported.
- Mike Trout has 422 home runs for the Los Angeles Angels.
- Aaron Judge has 385 home runs for the New York Yankees.
- Salvador Perez has 318 home runs for the Kansas City Royals.
For Kansas City, the number is now the one that sits above Brett’s. For Perez, it came in a tight road game, on a seventh-inning swing that helped the Royals turn a deficit into a 3-2 win over the Tigers.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.