Venezuelan Catcher Chasing Perez's Dream | Topeka News

When Salvador Perez tied a historic home run record, it didn’t just thrill fans—it moved a young Venezuelan catcher from Kansas, Augusto Mungarrieta, who’s idolized Perez since childhood. Mungarrieta, who caught 60 games and hit 17 homers this season, recalls Perez showing up to one of his early games—a moment that cemented his dream. Away from Venezuela, he battled homesickness, but stayed grounded through teammates and daily calls with his family. Even when a devastating earthquake cut him off from his parents for hours, he knew they were safe. Now, fueled by resilience and inspiration, Mungarrieta’s chasing his own big league dream, proving greatness knows no borders. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/9bd85106f71c2df6