ST. LOUIS
At times, Brayan Peña feels like the man who saw Bruce Springsteen before the arena tours, the man who saw Prince playing club shows. Four years ago, Peña was in his last season of a four-year stay in Kansas City, and even then, he says, he saw the foundation for a contender. Especially at catcher.
In 2011 and 2012, Peña served as a reserve catcher as the Royals broke in Salvador Perez at the major-league level. Peña needed just a few weeks to witness the promise and potential that existed in Perez’s 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame.