Royals Report: Revenge Sweep Over Cleveland

Jun 15, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Drew Butera (9) has the cooler dumped on his head by designated hitter Salvador Perez (13) after the win over the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 9-4. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Drew Butera (9) has the cooler dumped on his head by designated hitter Salvador Perez (13) after the win over the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 9-4. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
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Jun 15, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Salvador Perez (13) connects for a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Salvador Perez (13) connects for a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

1) Salvador Perez Bombs Away

What can we say? Salvador Perez hit a key bomb for the second straight night that changed the game. On Tuesday, his two-run shot erased a 2-1 deficit in the 8th inning to set up the KC Royals fourth win in a row. On Wednesday, his three-run shot turned a narrow 3-2 lead into a 6-2 bulge.

This time, the drive went to straight-away center field.

Perez is now on pace for 27 home runs this season, which would break his career high of 21 set just last year. The 26-year-old Perez is slashing a terrific .293/.321/.534 after his 1 for 4 performance Wednesday night.

Perez is clearly looking to drive the ball early in the count, and isn’t putting pitches that he can only make weak contact with in play before the pitcher has two strikes on him. As a result, Salvy is getting the chance to hit a lot more mistake pitches out of the yard.

Perez’s newfound power at the plate might make him the best catcher in baseball, with all due respect to Buster Posey, the resurgent Jonathan Lucroy, and Wilson Ramos in Washington.

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With a World Series MVP, three straight gold gloves, and three consecutive All-Star nods, Salvador Perez is one of the best players in the game. He certainly belongs in the AL MVP conversation for 2016.

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