Royals’ Salvador Perez made pair of dazzling plays in 1st start of 2023 at first base

Salvador Perez entered the Royals dugout three and a half hours before the start of Friday’s game against the Twins — a thriller that ended with a walk-off grand slam in extras — with a first baseman’s glove on his hand.

Media members noted Perez would be the first baseman that night.

“You’ve seen that before,” Perez said confidently as he mimicked catching a ball.

It’s true that Perez had made four career starts at first base before Friday night, but the last was in 2020. This wasn’t an emergency situation, as manager Matt Quatraro had talked with Perez at spring training about the possibility.

But Nick Pratto went on the injured list Friday (left groin strain), joining Vinnie Pasquantino and Matt Beaty, meaning three Royals first basemen were out of action.

Matt Duffy has played eight games at first base this season, and Nicky Lopez made a late-game appearance at that position Wednesday in Cleveland. So those are the Royals’ other options at the position for now.

Quatraro called Perez on Thursday night to make sure the five-time Gold Glove winner at catcher was fine with starting at first.

Perez showed he was more than ready, as he made a couple of incredible defensive plays in the Royals’ 8-5 victory over the Twins.

“He might be the best first baseman in the league,” quipped Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer.

Early in Friday’s game, Perez dived to his right and speared a ball off the bat of the Twins’ Max Kepler. Perez flipped to Singer for the out.

An inning later, Perez snared a ball hit by Matt Wallner and made a perfect toss to Singer for the out.

The best play came in the fifth inning. The Twins had the bases loaded with two outs when Wallner smashed a ball down the first-base line.

Perez dived and again got the ball to Singer at first, saving at least two runs from scoring.

Quatraro was asked what he thought when he saw Perez throw his body around on the big fifth-inning play.

“Get up,” Quatraro joked. “He made a nice play. A really nice play. I just wanted to make sure we got the out and he was OK.”

Story continues

Perez was just fine.

“I was just doing my job today. I was at first base. I saved some runs today,” Perez said with a smile.

The Twins had seven left-handed batters or switch-hitters in the lineup, so Perez wasn’t surprised to be so busy at first.

“You guys know sometimes I play first base during BP (batting practice), practice getting ground balls,” Perez said. “I think it also helps me being behind home plate, blocking the ball, working with my hands.

“So I play around first base. I’m not used to playing first base, but I kind of like it. I felt like 100 pounds off my body today not being a catcher. I feel lighter. I don’t have the chest protector, I don’t have to wear anything. It was good.”

Perez was very good on Friday.

Beaty update

Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said the Royals’ first option for a replacement at first base would have been Beaty, who is on the IL after suffering a concussion during a June game in Detroit.

Beaty is on a rehab assignment, but a core injury this week set him back, Picollo said.

“He’s gonna play the next three nights, so we’ll see where he’s at after this weekend and then we may look at him in the middle of the week sometime next week,” Picollo said of Beaty. “But really he was the one guy we were focused on (bringing up).”