Honored with Major League Baseball’s prestigious award for character, community service, and philanthropy, Salvador Perez emphasized to fellow players that even a little time devoted to charity can have a significant impact.
“I know we sometimes feel tired and prefer to relax at home on our days off,” said the Kansas City catcher on Monday after receiving the Roberto Clemente Award. “But if you can spare just two or three hours once a month, go out and bring joy to a kid. They will remember it forever.”
The nine-time All-Star and 2015 World Series MVP received the award before Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium.
“The good work he does is truly remarkable,” remarked baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Each offseason, Perez and his family distribute bags of food and kitchen supplies to 2,000 households in the poorest areas of his hometown, Valencia, Venezuela, helping over 10,000 families in the past decade. He also runs a youth baseball league, providing equipment and financial support to local kids and their families.
“When I was growing up, it was tough to afford bats and baseballs,” he explained. “My mom and I often discussed starting a Little League team. We currently have 220 kids involved, and we supply everything at no cost.
Perez has funded numerous surgeries for children with cleft lips, donated over 1,000 toys to children’s hospitals, and supported local police officers. He frequently travels to Colombia to assist the Carlos Fortuna Foundation in helping adults become better parents, even crossing the border on foot during strict travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
In the U.S., Perez collaborates with organizations fighting Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and works with Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer in Kansas. He made a landmark $1 million donation to the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy, the largest the academy has ever received.
Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, tragically died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972, while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
This season, Perez batted .271 with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs in 158 games, contributing to the Royals’ first playoff appearance since their 2015 World Series win. He is a five-time Gold Glove winner and boasts a career batting average of .267 over 1,552 games, all with the Royals since debuting in 2011.
He intends to keep the award beside his bed, saying, “After winning a World Series, this is the second-best honor I’ve received. I’ve earned Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, and the World Series MVP, but this one means a lot to me.”
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