KC Royals: Salvador Perez could win record Silver Slugger

Over the past few weeks, KC Royals catcher Salvador Perez has been nominated for a few prestigious awards.

He’s up for the Roberto Clemente Award for his work in the Kansas City community, is a nominee for the Hank Aaron Award, which is given to the best offensive performers in each league, and recently became one of three finalists for the Major League Baseball Players Association’s Players Choice Award for American League Outstanding Player.

Now, add a fourth award nomination to that impressive list. Perez is one of three finalists for the American League Silver Slugger Award at catcher. Votes by the manager and three coaches from every club will determine the winner, who will be revealed on MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET Nov. 11.

Other finalists are Mike Zunino of the Rays and Gary Sanchez of the Yankees.

KC Royals star Salvador Perez is in prime position to win a Silver Slugger.

Perez had a career year offensively for Kansas City this season and should be considered an overwhelming favorite to win the award. Zunino and Sanchez are great players in their own right, but their respective .216/.301/.559 and .204/.307/.730 slash lines pale in comparison to Perez’s .273/.316/.544.

And while Zunino finished with 33 home runs and Sanchez belted 23, they did not accomplish the fantastic feat Perez did this season when he became the first primary catcher since Johnny Bench (1972) to lead the majors in both RBIs (121) and home runs (he tied for the latter with Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with 48). Perez’s 48 not only shattered Bench’s long standing record, but also tied Jorge Soler’s club record for the most in a single season.

Salvador Perez may surpass a KC Royals legend in Silver Slugger Awards.

Barring any odd voting choices by managers and coaches, Perez is in prime position to secure his fourth Silver Slugger Award, which would surpass Kansas City legend George Brett for the most in Royals history.

Brett secured the first of his three Silver Slugger wins in 1980, when he was on the cusp of hitting .400 and ultimately finished with a .390 average. He won his second in 1985 when he hit .335 and led the majors with a .585 slugging percentage and 1.022 OPS; his third and final silver bat came in 1988 when he slashed .306/.389/.509 with an .898 OPS.

Perez’s Silver Slugger wins came in 2016 when he .247 with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs, 2018 when he hit .235 and mashed 27 homers with 80 RBIs, and last season when he slashed .333/.353/.633 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs.

Salvador Perez is in line to win his fourth Silver Slugger Award and surpass George Brett for the most won in KC history.