Veteran catcher Salvador Perez has been the heart and soul of the Kansas City Royals for years. He’s basically a franchise cornerstone, especially since their 2015 World Series win.
But his 2025 performance? It’s raising some tough questions about whether he can still be a key contributor as the Royals push for a playoff spot. Despite his legacy as a nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, Perez’s current stats hint at a pretty steep decline that might hurt the Royals’ postseason hopes.
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Salvador Perez’s 2025 Performance: A Cause for Concern?
Perez’s 2025 season has been a rough ride offensively. Through 46 games and 190 plate appearances, he’s hitting just .218/.254/.324.
That works out to a wRC+ of 57 and a negative WAR by both Baseball Reference and Fangraphs. These numbers are miles away from what you’d expect from a guy who averaged 30 homers a year from 2021 to 2024.
Key Statistics in 2025
Here’s a quick look at the numbers highlighting Perez’s struggles:
- Batting Average: .218
- On-Base Percentage: .254
- Slugging Percentage: .324
- wRC+: 57
- WAR: Negative
The Royals sit at 27-22 and are right in the Wild Card mix. With pitchers like Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans out, the offense has to step up, which makes Perez’s struggles even more glaring.
Reasons for Optimism: Underlying Metrics
Even with those scary surface stats, some underlying numbers suggest Perez’s slump might not last. His barrel rate is 13.0%—the best he’s managed since 2021, when he smacked 48 homers.
His hard-hit rate sits at 45.7%, better than the last two years and right up there with guys like Pete Alonso this season.
Encouraging Metrics
- Barrel Rate: 13.0%
- Hard-Hit Rate: 45.7%
These numbers show Perez is still making solid contact. Maybe this power outage is just a weird blip that’ll fix itself as the season goes on.
Potential Red Flags
But let’s not sugarcoat it—there are some red flags too. Perez’s strikeout rate has crept up to 22.6%, and his walk rate has dipped to 4.2% compared to his All-Star 2024 campaign.
He’s also hitting more grounders and fewer line drives, probably dragging down his average and slugging.
Concerning Trends
- Strikeout Rate: 22.6%
- Walk Rate: 4.2%
- Increased Ground Balls
- Decreased Line Drives
These trends aren’t totally new for Perez, but they’re worth keeping an eye on. Maybe there’s something deeper going on with his approach at the plate.
The Age Factor
Age is another big piece of this puzzle. At 35, Perez isn’t in his prime anymore, and staying at the top of your game for 162 games gets tougher each year.
The Royals have tried mixing in first base and DH to give him a break, but the grind of catching still wears you down.
Age-Related Decline
It’s hard to ignore that Perez’s offense has faded late in the last two seasons. If that keeps happening, the Royals might have to rethink his playing time, especially if they’re still in the playoff hunt.
What Lies Ahead?
The rest of the 2025 season leaves the Royals and their fans with plenty to wonder about. Will those encouraging underlying metrics finally turn into real results, or is this just the new normal?
Can the Royals keep running him out there if the numbers don’t bounce back, with so much at stake?
Decisions for the Royals
The team might need to look at a few options:
- Cutting back Perez’s playing time
- Giving him more rest days
- Maybe even exploring trade possibilities
None of these choices are easy, and each one could shake up the team’s chemistry or performance. It’s a tricky spot, honestly.
Conclusion
Salvador Perez’s 2025 season has really taken Royals fans on a wild ride. His stats right now don’t look great.
But when you dig into the numbers, there’s a little hope that he might bounce back. Still, with his age and a few warning signs, the Royals might have to face some tough choices as the year rolls on.
If you’re curious or just want to see more details, check out the full article on MLB Trade Rumors.
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