Salvador Perez will likely join George Brett in baseball’s Hall of Fame after his playing days are done. And now he’s surpassed him in one of the most significant statistical categories in Kansas City Royals history.
Perez hit his 318th home run Saturday, July 25 at Comerica Park in Detroit, dislodging Brett atop the Royals’ all-time home run list, a spot he’d held for 40 years.
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Perez’s home run off Tigers pitcher Kyle Finnegan was his 15th this season, the 11th consecutive full season that Perez, a nine-time All-Star, reached that plateau. Perez debuted with the Royals in 2011 and has signed multiple contract extensions to remain a Royal.
He’d already joined Brett in another revered circle, leading the Royals to the 2015 World Series championship, 30 years after Brett hit a career-high 30 homers and finished second in AL MVP voting to lead Kansas City to its first title.
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The Royals’ home run list is a testament to the style of play the franchise developed in spacious Kauffman Stadium. Brett set the franchise record in 1986 with his 194th home run, topping Amos Otis, who was far better known as a basestealer in his 17-year career.
Longtime first baseman Mike Sweeney ranks No. 3 on the list with 197 homers, while Alex Gordon – like Otis, better known for speed and defense – is fifth with 190.
Perez hit a career-high 48 home runs in 2021, leading the majors in longballs and RBIs, with 121. He produced another 30-homer, 100-RBI season in 2025, his age-35 season. Perez, who has largely ceded catching duties to Carter Jensen, is eligible for free agency after this season. He’s hit 242 of his home runs as a catcher.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
