Salvador Pérez on his place among elite catchers

By Jose de Jesus Ortiz

Salvador Pérez still views Puerto Rican superstar catcher Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals as his baseball idol, and that says quite a bit about the Kansas City Royals’ five-time All-Star catcher.

At 28, Pérez now joins Molina among the most respected catchers in baseball. He is the epitome of greatness behind the plate while showcasing the same dogged work ethic that Molina has delivered on the other side of the state.

“I see him like I’ve always seen him,” Pérez said of Molina. “He’s an idol for me. He’s the person I’ve always followed since I was a kid. I don’t care how long I’ve been in the majors, he’ll always be my baseball idol.

“I don’t know how the other catchers see me, but I hope one day they’ll see me the way I see Yadier because it would be a beautiful experience.”

Some men are blessed with more God-given talent than others, and clearly Pérez and Molina are in a special class.

Pérez, who has earned five consecutive American League All-Star berths, has won four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and one World Series title over his first seven seasons in the majors.

Molina is an eight-time All-Star with eight Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and two World Series titles since his debut in the majors in 2004.

Pérez and Molina are among the truly elite in the catching fraternity in part because they also push themselves harder than most are willing.

On the eve of opening day, Pérez was told that he would be out four to six weeks with a sprained left knee medial collateral ligament. He suffered the injury on a freak accident when he slipped at his home on March 27 while carrying his luggage after the Royals returned from spring training.

When told that he would be out four to six weeks, most of the folks who know Pérez best assumed that he would be back much closer to four weeks than six.

“I worked hard at the stadium,” Pérez said.

“I put my mind on the work to get healthy and to do everything the trainers and doctors told me to be ready for the season.”

Sure enough, he was back in the lineup on April 24, exactly four weeks after the accident.

“It was difficult because one likes to play baseball, but it’s something that you can’t control,” Pérez said. “After the injury you have to work hard to recover and return to the field.

“I feel good, thank God. I’m playing now. That’s what is important. I feel very good and I’m happy.”

Pérez homered in his return from the disabled list on April 24. He hit .254 with eight home runs, 26 RBIs and one stolen base over first first month’s worth of games after he was activated from the disabled list.

He hated that his idol was unable to play in the three-game interleague, Missouri Series when the Royals visited Busch Stadium from May 21-23.

Molina has been on the disabled list since May 6 after suffering an injury to his pelvic area when a 102-mph pitch was fouled back at his groin area on May 5.

Molina underwent emergency on May 5 and was told he’d be out four to six weeks, but the folks who know him best assume that he’ll also return closer to four weeks.

“He had an accident,” Pérez said of Molina. “He can’t control that. He’s a tremendous player. When I was a kid I followed him a lot. He will return soon. He’s feeling better. We’ve talked a lot. He’s given me a lot of advice.”

Although the Royals have struggled this season, Pérez helped Kansas City take two of three against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

He hit a home run in each of the last two games to help the Royals win the final two of the Missouri Series.

Pérez is a worthy successor to Molina, but he’s just proud to be mentioned in the same company as his idol.

Featured Image: Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport