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SURPRISE, Ariz. – Salvador Perez has a shadow.

Everywhere the Royals’ catcher and captain goes, Freddy Fermin is likely to follow. Early morning workout – we’re talking pre-dawn – in the weight room? Salvy and Freddy are there. Catching work with bench coach Paul Hoover? Salvy and Freddy are usually working next to each other. A group of catchers taking batting practice? Salvy and Freddy hit one right after the other.

Perez’s routine is not an easy one to replicate. What he puts his body through every day to be ready to catch a full season and be one of the premier hitters in the league after 14 seasons is indescribable. But Fermin has been trying to keep pace for several years now, and this year he started early in the spring.

“I have a lot of respect for Salvy,” Fermin said. “I see how he’s working. That makes me feel like, ‘Let’s go, Freddy. You got to keep working.’ I just want Salvy to feel good and comfortable that he’s got someone back there for him who can help him. If he needs rest, I’m there for him and for the team."

The two have formed a valuable catching tandem.

“We’re on the same page,” Perez said. “Every minute, we’re going to work together no matter what.”

While Perez was the starting catcher for 90 games in 2024 and played in 158 – appearing 49 times at first base and 23 as the designated hitter – the Royals increased Fermin’s playing time. The 29-year-old appeared in 111 games, starting 72 of them at catcher. He was the starting DH 18 times and DH’ed in 21 games overall.

Expect a similar workload in ‘25. Fermin has not only established himself as a reliable catcher following a year in which he was an American League Gold Glove Award finalist, but his bat has vastly improved – enough that he could probably be a starting catcher on another team, something that came up this offseason.

And in conversations about the Royals’ bench this spring, Fermin comes up as a right-handed pinch-hitting option several times. He recorded 368 plate appearances last year and slashed .271/.319/.366. There were stretches where Fermin was playing a lot and got exposed at the plate, but if manager Matt Quatraro can find the right spots for him, he could be a viable candidate.

“I view them as No. 1 and 1A catching-wise,” Quatraro said. “There will probably be some times where Freddy DH’s, if we have a lefty and need to get someone a day off. Certainly pinch-hitting at times. I think Freddy is one of the most selfless people I’ve been around. He never takes a pitch off.”

Everything Fermin does is in preparation for when he needs to back up Perez, a stubborn competitor who hates days off. That’s what makes the Royals’ legend great, but the mentality doesn’t make it easy for Quatraro when he has to tell Perez he’s getting a day off from catching.

With Fermin, though, Perez takes the news a little easier (well, at least in theory). In turn, Perez is fresher playing first base or as the DH, and it likely correlates to his bat still being so impactful all these seasons later.

“Fermin prepares himself every day,” Perez said. “It makes me feel safe. When I got an off-day or play first or DH, I feel like I have a guy who can do even better than me behind home plate. That’s the way I feel about him. I don’t have to even think about it. I know how he prepares.”

Pitchers, too, feel comfortable with both Perez and Fermin behind the plate. No matter who’s catching that day, both are in the game plan meetings. During games when Fermin is on the bench and Seth Lugo isn’t pitching, they’ll sit together in the dugout and talk about sequencing.

“He’s locked in,” Lugo said.

“... I think he knows pitchers on a personal level and understands how to balance that. You definitely feel good with whoever we roll out there. That’s a plus. I’ve been on some teams where some pitchers say they’re not throwing to a certain catcher. With us, it doesn’t matter. They’re both great.”

And that means the world to Fermin.

“I just want them to trust me, Salvy and the team,” Fermin said. “Pitchers, too. That’s why I keep in shape, keep ready, hitting and defense. I like that.”

Fermin’s journey to the big leagues hasn’t been easy. He signed with the Royals in 2015 for less than $10,000. He grinded through the Minor Leagues for seven years before his debut in ‘22.

Fermin still has never stopped working. That’s what got him to this moment, so why stop now?

“I feel bad when I’m not working,” Fermin said. “My mindset is always, ‘Work.’ Sleep a little bit. But I never stop.”

Perez thinks that mentality gives Fermin an advantage – and the Royals one, too.

“The way he worked to get [to the big leagues], that has given him such a strong mentality,” Perez said. “I think he appreciates it more than a lot of players. He’s sacrificed a lot. He wants to learn every day and not take anything for granted. He’s a very special part of our team.”