Kansas City Royals Salvador Perez to get more action at first
By David Hill
In an effort to keep Salvador Perez healthy and in the lineup, the Kansas City Royals plan on giving him more action at first base in the coming season.
Over the years, Salvador Perez has established himself as one of the best catchers in the game. The Kansas City Royals backstop has not only become a key piece in the middle of the lineup, but he has also established as one of the best defensive catchers in the game. A six time All Star, Perez has also taken home five Gold Glove awards due to his excellent arm and range behind the plate.
However, there are starting to be a few dents in his armor. After averaging 138 games from 2013 through 2018, Perez missed the entirety of the 2019 campaign due to Tommy John surgery. While he should be healthy for the upcoming season, there is still the question of how much the Royals want to expose his arm to the rigors of catching.
As such, the Royals are looking for other ways to get Perez in the lineup. That includes the idea of Perez seeing extensive action at first, as he would not only be able to protect his arm, but keep his power bat in the lineup.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals did not exactly get much production at first over the 2019 campaign. Their first basemen combined for a .648 OPS, by far the worst in the majors. Ryan O’Hearn, their regular first baseman, produced a .195/.281/.369 batting line with 14 homers in 370 plate appearances, while his 69 wRC+ was the fifth worst mark in the majors. That was as good as it got in Kansas City.
Even if it takes some time for Perez to be back to his previous form, he should still be an upgrade at the position offensively. In 2018, he posted a .235/.274/.439 batting line, hitting 23 doubles and 27 homers. That production would be a dramatic upgrade.
It is also possible that getting more action at first improves Perez’s production at the plate. He had worn down offensively each season as the extensive action at catcher caught up with him. Now, by being able to rest his knees and arm at first, he may get back to the form he displayed offensively earlier in his career. And hopefully, in that time off, he will have learned how to lay off the slider low and away…
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The Kansas City Royals are looking for a way to protect Salvador Perez next season. A part of that plan involves his seeing extensive action at first base.