Baller Alert's Athlete of the Week: Salvador Perez - blogged by @LoveRubyWoo

Athlete of the Week: Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals Catcher)

First off, a huge congrats to the Kansas City Royals on winning their first World Series in 30 years! After a heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the World Series last year, the Royals were able to come back better than ever and win it all this time around. In a riveting Game 5 this past Sunday, the Royals came from behind and tied the game up in the final inning of regulation. Royals catcher Salvador Perez had been stellar all throughout the series, batting an average of .364, and it was his hit that helped his team tie the Mets in crunch time to send the game into extra innings. Down by 1 at the top of the 9th inning, Perez hit a crucial grounder to third base that allowed first baseman Eric Hosmer to run home and tie the game up at 2-2. Then, in the 12th and final inning of the World Series, it was his hit that started off the 5-run stretch which ultimately sealed the major victory for the Royals. Perez's clutch hitting in Game 5, along with his two doubles, two RBIs, and three runs throughout the series, earned him the title of World Series MVP. His sentiments after the game reflected the grit and determination he and his teammates have shown throughout their hard-fought journey to the top. "You guys know what we've done all season," Perez said. "We never quit. We never put our heads down. ... We always compete to the last out. And that's what we did tonight."

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