Royals get worrying projection on Salvador Perez amid 2026 struggles
This is not a good outlook for the Royals star catcher.
Royals get worrying projection on Salvador Perez amid 2026 struggles originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . This season for the Kansas City Royals has been far from ideal.
With a 20-30 record, they're sitting in last place in the AL Central and might wind up as sellers come the MLB trade deadline. It's been a rough 2026 season, and there might be a greater concern with one player than all of the others, and it has to do with Salvador Perez. The Athletic's Jim Bowden is also concerned about Perez, but his projection for the Royals' star catcher is a lot more worrisome than what Royals fans will want to hear.
Royals get a concerning Salvador Perez projection about declining production "My best guess: Decline is starting," Bowden writes. "Perez, 36, is a future Hall of Famer, team leader, and the face of the Royals franchise. He was a star during this spring's World Baseball Classic, but he's showing signs that age is catching up to him.
" Perez has not been a great player in 2026, posting -0. 2 bWAR in 185 at-bats this season for Kansas City. He's been a positive player in his career, but last year he did regress a bit.