KANSAS CITY -- For the sixth straight season, Royals catcher Salvador Perez is an All-Star. And it never gets old.
"I think every All-Star Game is special for us," Perez said. "I'm excited to go to Washington, D.C., and enjoy that moment with a lot of great guys in the league."
For now, Perez is the only player representative for the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard on July 17. He was voted in via the Player Ballot. Royals assistant athletic trainer Kyle Turner also will be a part of the American League team.
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"I hope Whit Merrifield can go, too," Perez said. "He deserves it. He's had a tremendous year."
Perez is not having a great year offensively, hitting just .213 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs. But he remains one of the top defensive catchers in baseball.
"I'm not having a great year hitting right now, but I'm trying to do my best every night," Perez said. "It's part of the game. I'm going to enjoy it with my family and be excited for the two days in Washington, D.C."
Perez missed the first three weeks of the season with a sprained left knee.
"A lot of people know in [the Royals' clubhouse] how hard I like to work," Perez said. "It's something I can't control when I get hurt. But, yeah, super excited to be back on the team and now go to the All-Star Game."
What excites him the most?
"I think being around Jose Altuve," Perez said. "I grew up with him in Venezuela. Being in the same locker room and the same All-Star Game, it's pretty special for me."
And does Perez hope to hang out with his old friend and former teammate, Milwaukee's Lorenzo Cain?
"No, because he's in the National League," Perez said, smiling.
Fans can cast votes for the final player on each league's roster -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online as part of the 2018 Camping World MLB Final Vote, as well as via the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark mobile apps, until Wednesday at 3 p.m. CT.
Then on Tuesday, July 17, while watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans can submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote.
The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.
For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.