Jeff Passan, ESPN
Kansas Metropolis Royals catcher Salvador Perez gained the Roberto Clemente Award, Main League Baseball’s most prestigious honor awarded yearly to the participant whose humanitarian efforts exemplify off-the-field service.
The 34-year-old, who has spent all 13 years of his main league profession with Kansas Metropolis, is the primary Royals participant to win the award and was lauded for his generosity not solely in his adopted hometown however in Valencia, Venezuela, the place Perez grew up, and Colombia, the place his contributions honor a minor league pitcher who died of most cancers.
“After we do one thing, we do as a result of it is coming from my coronary heart,” Perez stated. “I do not love to do issues as a result of someone ask me to do it. Once I sit with my mother and wish to do one thing, we simply do. We do not have to put up something on social media. I do not like that. If I do, I do it for my coronary heart. I wish to make folks blissful.”
Perez, the Royals’ captain who is likely one of the most beloved athletes in Kansas Metropolis sports activities historical past, performed on Roberto Clemente Day this 12 months in Pittsburgh, the place the Corridor of Fame outfielder spent every of his 18 seasons. Perez later donated his catcher’s gear from that day to the Clemente Museum. Clemente, the Corridor of Fame outfielder for the Pirates, died in a airplane crash making an attempt to ship support to Nicaragua after a devastating 1972 earthquake. Clemente, esteemed for his philanthropy throughout Latin America — together with his native Puerto Rico — was 38.
“I’ve learn loads (about) Roberto Clemente. I do know he was a tremendous participant, however he was even higher outdoors the sphere,” Perez stated. “In order that made him tremendous particular and made this award tremendous particular.”
Perez stated he’s proudest of his work in Venezuela, a rustic ravaged by political instability and meals insecurity. Alongside along with his mom, Yilda Diaz, who raised him alone, Perez distributes meals and kitchen provides to almost 2,000 homes close to Valencia yearly and has supplied support to greater than 10,000 households within the space. Lately, a youth league Perez owns has supplied youth baseball for 220 youngsters, providing free gear and clinics that promote training and security.
“Every thing begins the place you are coming from,” Perez stated, “so that you make it to this degree, you’ve alternative to assist folks.
“Venezuela is a part of my coronary heart, too,” he continued. “That is the nation that give me alternative. And I began enjoying baseball once I was 4 years previous, so it means loads to me. However political and all that, it is type of onerous to speak about that. Issues occur for a cause. I consider in God, and I believe sooner or later all the pieces’s going to alter for the great method.”
Venezuela’s westerly neighbor, Colombia, has been helped by Perez as properly by the Carlos Fortuna Basis. Fortuna, a pitcher from the Dominican Republic within the Royals group, died in 2013 of liver most cancers on the age of twenty-two. Monica Ramirez, the Royals’ Schooling/ESL & Latin American Initiatives Coordinator, helped create the muse to foster parental training, significantly in low-income Latin American nations. She met Perez when he was 16, shortly after he signed with the Royals. Perez calls Ramirez “my second mother” and when she requested him to help within the basis’s efforts, he stated he jumped on the alternative.
Throughout Kansas Metropolis — the place Perez is thought for his postgame watercooler showers of teammates affectionately known as the Salvy Splash — he’s a constant determine in the neighborhood. From his $1 million donation to the town’s City Youth Academy, to his work with native ALS and childhood most cancers organizations, fee for surgical procedures to restore cleft lips in youngsters and donations to native police, Perez hopes his vast swath of service can encourage different gamers to be charitable.
“Typically you wish to relaxation,” he stated. “Even if you happen to assume sooner or later each month, simply sooner or later each month. That is it. Someday each month attempt to make some child blissful. Do one thing. Even get your social media, make folks blissful. Have an image with someone. Simply sooner or later each month. I believe that is going to alter the world.”
A nine-time All-Star, Perez has gained 5 Gold Gloves and was MVP of the 2015 World Collection.
He posted sometimes sturdy numbers this 12 months, main the Royals to the playoffs for the primary time in 9 seasons and hitting .271/.330/.456 with 27 residence runs and 104 RBIs. Over his profession, Perez is batting .267/.303/.459 with 273 residence runs and 916 RBIs in 1,552 video games.
