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KC Royals Fantasy Heroes: Salvador Perez Finds Power

By John Viril

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The KC Royals continue their power barrage in the 2015 season with C Salvador Perez‘s third home run of 2015, while stomping the Angels 9-2 in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon.

As a team, the Kansas City Royals smacked 13 hits—including 1 home run, 3 doubles, and 1 triple.

The KC Royals are hitting the ball with far more authority six games into the 2015 season than the 2014 club that hit only 95 home runs, which was dead last in MLB.

SALVADOR PEREZ

Lookout baseball world, Salvador Perez looks like he has figured out how to consistently drive the ball. The Kansas City Royals two-time all-star catcher has slugged three home runs in the first six games of the 2015 season.

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Sal Perez has always had all-field power since the 245-pound catcher came up as a rookie in 2011. However, Perez was such a hacker that he would nullify his natural strength by slapping at outside pitches way out of the strike zone.

Last season, Salvador Perez made a conscious effort to hit for power and ended up pulling everything to right. He did, however, hit a carer-high 17 home runs in 2014; but that is well short of his potential.

Now, Perez appears to have developed the patience to sit on pitches that he can drive. If Salvador Perez keeps up his selectivity at the plate, he could slam 30 home runs and become the most valuable catcher in fantasy baseball.

I’m sure Perez is already on a roster in your league. Just notice that you might get a lot more home runs and RBIs than you expected. This is a guy you’d be foolish to deal.

PAULO ORLANDO

Paulo Orlando got the second start of his major league career in place of Alex Gordon in left, and hit two triples. The guy has three hits in his career and all of them are three-baggers.

Orlando might gain some temporary fantasy value if Alex Gordon is forced to the disabled list due to his right wrist (which he had off-season surgery to repair).

Gordon is currently struggling at the plate through the season’s first six games with an anemic .077/.333/.077 slash line for an OPS (on base plus slugging) of .410. Right now, he doesn’t look like he’s swinging with authority at the plate. Don’t be surprised if Alex Gordon eventually is forced to sit down early this season to let his wrist heal.

With the way Orlando is hitting, he will move into the KC Royals lineup rather than Jarrod Dyson.

AT THE PLATE

The Kansas City Royals continue to crush the baseball scoring nine runs on Sunday. The Royals have also homered in each of their first six games, including a solo shot from Salvador Perez in the 7th.

Salvador Perez finished 2 for 5 with 1 single, 1 home run, 1 run scored and 2 RBIs (8).

Alex Rios went 3 for 5 with 3 singles, 1 run scored, and 2 RBIs (7).

Alcides Escobar continues to thrive as the leadoff hitter. He finished the day 1 for 4, with a 2-RBI single in the 2nd inning, 1 sacrifice fly, and 3 RBIs on the day (3).

Paulo Orlando finished the day 2 for 4 with 2 triples, and 3 runs scored. He is the first guy since (at least) 1914 to smack triples for the first three hits of his career.

ON THE MOUND

Yordano Ventura pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and seven strikeouts while racking up his second win of the season (2-0).

Ventura gave up a home run to Albert Pujols in the first inning, then did not allow a hit until the sixth inning when he allowed a single to Mike Trout and a double to Albert Pujols.

When Trout scored the Angels second run, Ventura said something to Trout while backing up the play at the plate that caused both benches to clear. Pujols then inexplicably attempted to steal third with one out and the Angels down five runs, and was easily thrown out by Salvador Perez.

Ace Ventura then left the game with what appeared to be a leg cramp.

Jason Frasor entered in the 6th to get the final out. Frasor pitched through the 7th inning, to log 1.1 IP, while allowing 1 walk and notching 1 strikeout.

Chris Young saw his first action of the year, entering in the 8th inning and finishing out the game. In 2.0 IP, Young allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.

UP NEXT

The KC Royals will open a three game series in Minnesota by sending Danny Duffy (0.0, 9.00 ERA) to the mound against Trevor May (0-0, 7.88 ERA) for the Twins. Game time is 2:10 PM CST, Monday, April 13 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Next: Salvador Perez Could Get Another New Contract

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