Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby has grown its roster fairly slowly this year, but fans can add a new name to the list for the July 12 event in Denver: Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez.
Perez, 31, has a history of dingers and has knocked out 19 home runs in 2021, to go along with 171 over his 10-year career. Additionally, the seven-time all-star and three-time silver slugger has batted .278 this year with 48 RBIs in advance of his participation in the All-Star Game itself.
This is Perez’s first selection to the Derby.
“Super excited,” Perez said. “It’s my first time and something I have wanted to do before my career is over. I got an opportunity, and I’m so excited. So happy, and I thank God for everything that’s happened to me.”
Five players are now confirmed for the event, including hometown hero Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies, defending Derby champion Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, two-way star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels and Trey Mancini of the Baltimore Orioles, who missed the 2020 season after he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
A total of eight players will participate in the competition.
–Field Level Media