Perez's 318th HR Passes Brett for Royals Record
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- Salvador Perez hit his 318th career home run Saturday, surpassing George Brett to become the Kansas City Royals' all-time franchise leader in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers.
- The record-breaking blast was a 401-foot solo shot off Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan in the seventh inning, clearing the bullpen in left to pull Kansas City even at 2-2.
- George Brett had owned the franchise record for 40 years, having passed Amos Otis with his 194th home run on April 9, 1986; Brett delivered a congratulatory video message on the Royals' social media channels after Perez's homer.
- Perez received an ovation from the Comerica Park crowd in Detroit after the record was announced, telling Royals TV in his postgame interview: "It's unbelievable. I didn't know I was going to make it this far in my career."
- Perez's 318 homers for one franchise rank third among active single-team players, trailing only Mike Trout's 422 for the Los Angeles Angels and Aaron Judge's 385 for the New York Yankees.
- Perez has now hit 31 career home runs against Detroit, his second-favorite target behind the 36 he has launched against the Minnesota Twins.
Why it matters: Perez's milestone displaces a 40-year-old record set by Hall of Famer George Brett, cementing his status as the defining Royal of his generation. With 318 career homers trailing Mike Trout (422) and Aaron Judge (385) among active single-franchise sluggers, Perez has room to climb further if he stays healthy and productive.
