Johnny Bench is now out of reach for Salvador Perez, who also holds the record for most long balls in one season by a catcher. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is tied for first place on the 2021 home run leaderboard. (0:28).
CLEVELAND -- Salvador Perez scored his 46th home run Monday to break Johnny Bench's record of 46 home runs by a catcher in a single season. The Kansas City Royals defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-2.
Perez, 31, homered in the fifth inning for a run and topped Bench's 1970 total of 75%.
He said, "It was amazing." He said, "I thank God. It's incredible.
Perez moved into a tie with Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr for the major league homers lead. Perez is also the leader in major league RBIs with 115 RBIs. He was the first major league catcher to have that many RBIs since Mike Piazza 1999.
Perez has had a difficult season trying to be in contention for the title of home run champion. Perez trailed Shohei Oktani, the home run leader at that time, by 12 at the All Star break. However, he made up the difference by hitting 25 homers in the span of 24 days.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Jimmie Foxx won the 1935 home run title. He had trailed the leader by at most 12 dingers at All-Star break.
Mike Matheny, Royals manager, said, "It's just difficult to get your head around. To be honest. "The game's long history and the many great players who have played it. It's incredible that he can do something no one has done before.
Perez started behind the plate again -- the durable All-Star has been a designated hitter for some time -- and drove a 1-2 pitch from Triston Mackenzie into the bleachers. The drive traveled 429 feet. Perez, who had just crossed home plate, pointed up to the sky and was hugged by his teammates as he entered into the dugout.
Matheny stated, "For a guy so respected in the clubhouse, it wasn't your usual home run." Salvy was a beautiful sight to behold. He'll never forget it.''
Perez tied Bench in Kansas City on Thursday night as the Royals faced Seattle. Perez was 1-for-13 at the plate during the last three games of the series, but he didn't feel pressure to break the record. He was more focused on winning the games.
DeMarlo Hale, interim manager of the Indians, said that Perez was one of those rare people who finds energy and passion to continue playing. He's having an offensive year that's just as special. He's not talked about in the MVP race but, I will tell you, he's there in mine.
Perez also singled in this first. He made his presence felt defensively when he threw Myles Straw out trying to steal second base at the bottom of the ninth.
McKenzie stated, "He's an excellent hitter, to begin." "Third, he's an excellent catcher. Straw was thrown out early in the game. This kind of slowed down our momentum. He is a man who can make you pay for your mistakes. He did exactly that. He was definitely on fire towards the end of the season.
This story used information from The Associated Press.
