Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Pérez set a new MLB record for most home runs by a primary catcher in a single season with his home run Monday afternoon at Progressive Field.
Pérez broke a tie with Hall of Famer Johnny Bench by hitting a two-run shot against Cleveland, his 46th home run of the season:
The home run will certainly generate debate, because Pérez has hit 31 home runs as a catcher, and 15 as a DH. However, when Bench hit 45 home runs and won the National League MVP in 1970, "only" 38 of his home runs came as a catcher.
In any event, it's been a pretty incredible season for Pérez, who hadn't hit more than 27 home runs in a season until 2021. The seven-time All-Star is now closing in on 50 home runs in a season, and a potential home run crown, as he tries to beat out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Shohei Ohtani.
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