Salvador

Perez

Perez was a DH in the second game after going 0-for-4 as a catcher in the afternoon defeat. His homer off Brandon Sproat was his second of the year. He also scored after one of the walks, which is more of a rarity for him than the homer.

Jensen remains out of Kansas City’s lineup for the second consecutive contest after a highly-publicized incident Thursday where he overslept and was scratched from the lineup. The 22-year-old rookie backstop figures to be behind the dish for the second game of Saturday’s twin bill after veteran Salvador Perez handles the catching duties in the opening contest.

The 35-year-old backstop victimized Giants’ right-hander Adrian Houser in the first inning of this one, swatting a two-run shot (105.1 mph EV) that gave the Royals an early 2-0 edge. That would be his only hit in three at-bats and the Royals’ only scoring in the ballgame. Perez is now hitting .235 (4-for-17) with a pair of homers and four RBI in his limited Cactus League action this spring.

Suárez was one of Venezuela’s heroes during Monday’s comeback win over Italy to reach the WBC final, launching a solo homer off starter Aaron Nola to jump-start a four-run outburst. He’ll get the nod at DH after appearing in just four of the six games for Venezuela to this point in the tournament. Here’s the full lineup: Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF), Maikel Garcia (3B), Luis Arraez (1B), Suárez (DH), Gleyber Torres (2B), Ezequiel Tovar (SS), Wilyer Abreu (LF), Salvador Perez (C) and Jackson Chourio (CF).

Garcia spent a lot of time hitting cleanup down the stretch last season, but he’s led off in all three of his appearances this spring, suggesting that the Royals are leaning towards employing him there in the regular season. That would give Salvador Perez’s stock a little boost, since he’d move up from fifth to fourth. Jonathan India, who opened up in the leadoff spot last year, would hit in the bottom half of the order if Garcia leads off, making him a weaker bet as a late-round, bounce-back option.

Perez’s first game in Arizona was a good one; homering off Nathan Eovaldi and doubling off Trey Supak. The 35-year-old is no longer in contention for the best fantasy catcher in baseball, but there’s still enough pop in his right-handed bat for him to be a relevant player in 2026 and beyond.

Perez, who homered in his lone plate appearance, was playing first base before leaving with an apparent thumb injury. He posted a video of himself working out today, so it doesn’t seem to be a significant problem. Perez is 6-for-29 with two homers in nine games for Caracas.

The new deal ostensibly replaces Pérez’s $13.5 million club option for next season and keeps him in Kansas City through at least 2027, increasing the likelihood that he finishes his career with the Royals. The 35-year-old ironman eclipsed the 30-homer mark for the second time in his 14-year career last season and remains one of the game’s most durable backstops. He’ll head into next year as a surefire top-10 fantasy catcher.

Salvador Perez is already there, but Langeliers could become just the 12th catcher in major league history with 30 doubles and 30 homers. Perez has done it for the first time this year, collecting 34 homers and 30 doubles. Before that, the last to do it was Mike Lieberthal in 1999 (33 2B, 31 HR). Mike Piazza did it twice in 1997 and ’98, while Johnny Bench did it three times in the 1970s.

Perez’ home run was his 30th of the year. The 35-year-old catcher hit a three-run home run off Max Scherzer to put the Royals up 5-0 with nobody out in the first inning. Perez has hit at least 30 home runs in a season for the second time, though he’s had at least 27 home runs in a season five times. He’s hitting .240 with a .743 OPS and 95 RBI on the year.