'An extreme honor': Salvador Perez named 4th team captain in Royals history

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Before the Kansas City Royals began Opening Day in 2023, the team made a huge announcement naming Salvador Perez the fourth team captain in club history.

“Salvy is a Royals icon, a Kansas City icon and a baseball icon,” said J.J. Picollo, Royals executive vice president and general manager. “This honor reflects not just his place in Royals history, but just as importantly the work he puts in and the leadership he provides our organization.”

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said post game that Perez was told he was going be the next captain during the team's last Spring Training game.

Quatraro said he and Picollo gave him the news.

Perez, who debuted with a C on the left side of his jersey on Opening Day, said he is "extremely honored" to be named the captain.

"It's special for me; it's a special day," Perez said post game. "When we think about Royals history from George Brett and Frank White, the way they played the game, the way they taught each other to play the game and their passion for it, it's something I want to follow."

Perez says his teammates were super excited about Perez being named captain.

Perez became the Royals first team captain in 16 years. Former Royals star Mike Sweeney was the last player to be named captain, from 2003 to 2007.

Over the Royals franchise history, only two others players in the franchise history were named captain alongside Perez and Sweeney: franchise legend George Brett who was named captain from 1989 to his final season in 1993 and Frank White, who was co-captain alongside Brett in 1989 and 1990.

During his career with the Royals, Perez has amassed 1,274 hits and 223 home runs while catching 9,325.1 innings so far before his soon-to-be 12th season on the field for the Royals.

Perez joins New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge as the only two players to be named captain for their respective squads in 2023.

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