Salvador Perez is back in the MLB playoffs with the Royals and ready to face the Orioles

BALTIMORE — Salvador Perez spent some time on the eve of his return to the MLB playoffs catching up with old pals who were his teammates the last time he — and the Kansas City Royals — played beyond the regular season, way back in 2015: Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain. Asked Monday what it’s like to be back in the postseason nearly a decade after earning World Series MVP honors while helping KC win the title, and the only guy from that championship still with the team, the 34-year-old catcher from Venezuela let out a hearty chuckle as he replied, “I feel old.” It’s been a long and difficult path for the Royals to make it to October again and a matchup with the Baltimore Orioles in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday. “Like, ‘Let’s get Salvy back to the playoffs.’” He’s in his 13th season in the majors, all with Kansas City, and made his ninth All-Star team this year. “I’m looking forward,” Ragans said, “to seeing postseason Salvy.” Did Perez worry he might not get the chance to be in that position? “I don’t like to think that way.. We all can see a bad season, but I think we learned from that,” Kansas City’s cleanup hitter said.