KC Royals: Salvador Perez makes 2021 All-MLB Team

The KC Royals may have had a losing record this season, but they haven’t fallen short on postseason awards. Michael A. Taylor and Andrew Benintendi became first-time Gold Glove winners, and Salvador Perez has won the Luis Aparicio Award and a Silver Slugger, was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award, the Hank Aaron Award, the Major League Baseball Players Association’s American League Most Outstanding Player Award, the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association’s Heart & Hustle Award, and was a Gold Glove finalist.

Tuesday night, Perez added to his collection of 2021 honors when he was named to the All-MLB Team.

Whit Merrifield and Nicky Lopez were also nominated but didn’t win.

Perez triumphed over Buster Posey of the Giants for the first team catcher’s slot (Posey made the second team). Kansas City teammate Lopez was quick to congratulate the Royals’ catcher:

https://twitter.com/nick3lopez/status/1463305664361635844

Salvador Perez’s great 2021 KC Royals season accounts for his awards.

With the historic campaign Perez had, it’s no wonder he’s been racking up awards.

Perez drove in a major league high 121 runs and also tied fellow All-MLB Team member Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the big league lead with 48 home runs. Those 48 homers also surpassed Hall of Famer Johnny Bench’s long-standing mark for the most hit in a season by a primary catcher and tied Kansas City’s club record for most in one campaign.

Those numbers paved the way for Perez to earn his fourth Silver Slugger and surpass George Brett for the most in Royals’ history.

Although he didn’t win a sixth Gold Glove due to what may have been falling short on a couple of advanced metrics, Perez had a solid defensive year with a .998 fielding percentage, and he led all catchers with a 43.9% caught-stealing rate, 61 assists, and 12 double plays.

Two other KC Royals had good seasons but didn’t make the All-MLB Team.

Whit Merrifield and Nicky Lopez didn’t get chosen for the All-MLB Team, but both had stellar seasons for Kansas City.

Merrifield lost out to Toronto’s Marcus Semien and Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies, but batted .277 with 74 RBIs, 10 home runs, and 40 stolen bases. He also had a .988 fielding percentage, 382 assists, and 103 double plays turned at second base.

Nicky Lopez had a career year, hitting .300 with 43 RBIs and 22 stolen bases, and posted a .987 fielding percentage at shortstop to go along with 371 assists and 77 double plays. He lost out to Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres and Trea Turner of the Dodgers for the All-MLB team.

Salvador Perez’s great 2021 season has paid off again. He made the All-MLB Team for the second straight year.