Salvador Johan Pérez Diaz is a Venezuelan-American catcher for the Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals.
Perez has been a seven-time MLB All-Star, five-time Gold Glove Award winner, and the World Series Most Valuable Player Award winner after the Royals defeated the New York Mets in the 2015 World Series.
Pérez now has 48 home runs as a primary catcher in a single season, surpassing Johnny Bench’s 45 in 1970.
Pérez was born in the Venezuelan city of Valencia, Carabobo. Yilda Diaz, his mother, raised him after his father abandoned him when he was four years old.
They moved to Valencia to live with Yilda’s mother, Carmen de Diaz, when he was eight years old. Yilda provided financial support for the family by selling homemade cakes, flan, and lasagna.
Yilda put her only child in a baseball school in Valencia, where he demonstrated his aptitude to throw, catch, and hit balls as early as the age of six.
He pitched and played shortstop for teams in state and national tournaments. He expressed an interest in playing catcher at the age of eight and decided to pursue it professionally at the age of fourteen.
During his childhood, Pérez played alongside and against current Major Leaguer and fellow Venezuelan second baseman José Altuve.
Pérez lives in his hometown with his wife, Maria Gabriela, sons Salvador Jr. and Johan, and daughter Paulina during the offseason.
Pérez was naturalized as an American citizen on January 24, 2020, taking the oath of citizenship during the Royals’ annual FanFest.
Pérez tested positive for COVID-19 on July 4, 2020, according to reports. He returned to team activities on July 15.
During a game near the close of the 2013 season, teammate Alcides Escobar sprayed Pérez with Victoria’s Secret women’s perfume and predicted four hits, which he did;
Pérez continued to wear perfume during games as a good-luck charm, switching to Carolina Herrera’s 212 VIP cologne in 2014.
How Old Is Salvador Perez?
Salvador Perez is 31 years. He was born on May 10, 1990.