Salvador Perez named American League Comeback Player of the Year

Salvador Perez continued his string of awards on Thursday when he was named American League Comeback Player of the Year. Earlier in the week he was named to the first team All-MLB team at catcher.

Perez missed the entire 2019 season after an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. The injury is typically difficult for catchers to return from, but Salvy responded with one of his best offensive seasons, hitting .333/.353/.633 with 11 home runs in 37 games. He led all catchers in Wins Above Replacement, according to Fangraphs, and was second among all catchers with at least 100 plate appearances in wRC+.

Pitcher Daniel Bard of the Colorado Rockies won the National League award after posting a 3.65 ERA in 24 ²⁄₃ innings in his first Major League action in seven years. The MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award has been given out since 2005, with Mike Moustakas the only other Royals player to ever win the award in 2017. There are three Comeback Player of the Year awards, but this is the one officially sanctioned by MLB. The Player’s Association awarded their Comeback Player of the Year Award to Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco and The Sporting News has yet to reveal their award.