First wins are always the sweetest, and for Salvador Perez, leading Venezuela to a 3–2 WBC victory over Team USA was the ultimate prize. The Royals’ $25 million veteran was so ecstatic after the final that he admitted that this win might just be the final piece of his career’s puzzle.

“I’m super happy, and now I feel like I can retire,” Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez joked to the FOX Sports WBC panel. “I’m super excited, guys. I want to thank God first for everything, my country, and all the people who support us. I know a lot of people don’t believe in this thing, but we did it. We did it, and we’re number one.”

Even with those feelings, Parez isn’t leaving the baseball field anytime soon. He signed a two-year extension with the Royals that goes till the 2027 season with a $25 million contract. So, it was just the excitement of watching his team win for the very first time. On top of that, let’s not forget that he wants to play till he is 40, and there are still five years left for that to happen.

Perez helped Venezuela take the lead by getting a hit on the very first pitch, which put him on base. Then Ronald Acuña Jr. walked, so both runners were in scoring position. After that, Garcia hit a sacrifice fly, which brought Perez home to score. Perez also guided Eduardo Rodríguez’s pitching. Rodríguez pitched 4⅓ strong innings while giving up just one hit before Venezuela turned the game over to their relief pitchers.

Even Fox Sports analyst David Ortiz praised Perez for his extraordinary performance.

“Salvador Perez behind the plate, he is absolutely solid,” Ortiz said. “That’s why he has been in this game for so long, and he needs to lead this ball club and give guidance to the pitching staff. That’s why this guy was hitting the spot. And I tell you guys, he’s one of the best at framing pitches behind the plate.”

Now, Perez’s excitement over the win makes sense. After Venezuela lost early in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, they came back strong this time. They won three out of four games in the group stage. They then beat the defending champions, Japan, to reach the quarterfinals.

Even though people thought they might lose, Venezuela played well and beat Italy in the semis. With the win, they made it to the final against Team USA, the team that beat them in 2023.

Perez also clarified how his love for the Kansas City Royals is unmatched, but playing for the nation carries its own weight.

“I love Kansas City; I don’t want people to get me wrong… But when you play for your country, it’s something different,” Perez said. “It’s something special. We play for 30 million people.”

Now, if at all Perez decides to retire after such a major milestone, he will be one of the exceptional players in history.

Salvador Perez’s remarkable showing throughout his career

Salvador Perez is a Venezuelan baseball player who has spent his entire MLB career with the Kansas City Royals. He has played as a catcher since his debut in 2011, and he has become one of the most important players in the team’s history.

Perez has been selected as an All-Star nine times. He has won the Gold Glove award and the Silver Slugger award five times, showing his elite two-way ability. In 2015, he helped the Royals win the World Series and was named World Series MVP for his performance.

Over his long career, Perez has hit over 300 home runs and driven in more than 1,000 runs. He also has a solid batting average of .264 in over 14 seasons in the MLB.

Salvador Perez started as a young player from Venezuela. He worked hard to become one of the most important players on his team. Now, he led them to their first-ever WBC and was also named. Salvador Perez is not just about baseball; it’s about seeing a player build an amazing legacy.