Field General Sits Down with Salvador Perez, in Partnership with Rawlings

baseballSep 15, 20263 min read

Field General, in partnership with Rawlings, interviewed World Series MVP catcher Salvador Perez as part of an ongoing series on the craft, gear, and mindset behind playing the most demanding position on the diamond.

Perez traces his path from Venezuela to the top of the game, breaks down the Rawlings equipment technology he trusts behind the plate, and explains what it means to be a Field General.

Watch the full, exclusive interview

Inside the conversation

The gear. Perez walks through leg guard construction and the protection-to-mobility tradeoff that defines modern catching, the chest protector design Rawlings has built around him, and the limited-edition holiday and special-event catcher's sets that have become collector pieces for players at every level.

The craft. He names the single skill he believes separates catchers who make it from catchers who don't, and gets into the one-knee-down stance now reshaping how the position is taught from youth ball up.

The game ahead. Perez shares his read on baseball in 2026, the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, and what representing Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic means to him.

The person. Ballpark food, favorite cities, the job he'd be working if baseball hadn't worked out, and what the Rawlings gold patch and the title mariscal de campo mean to a player who has worn both with pride.

Chapters

00:00: Introducing Salvador Perez
00:37: Back to the beginning
01:20: 20-yard dash story
03:00: What's the one skill you need to make it as a catcher?
03:50: What made you choose Rawlings?
04:50: Rawlings Gold Glove Award
06:13: Catcher's Leg Guard Technology
07:50: Showstopping Chest Protectors
09:11: One knee down catching stance
10:15: Rawlings limited-edition holiday and special event catcher's sets
11:47: What does the Rawlings gold patch mean to you?
12:56: Baseball in 2026 and Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS)
15:20: Venezuela and the World Baseball Classic
17:20: What is your favorite ballpark food?
18:05: What's your favorite city to visit and play in, and why?
18:25: If you weren't a professional baseball player, what would you be doing for a job?
18:46: What does it mean to you to be the Field General/mariscal de campo?

About Rawlings

Rawlings has outfitted catchers at every level of the game for more than a century, and its protective gear and mitts remain the standard behind the plate in professional baseball.

The Gear Salvy Trusts

In the interview, Perez breaks down the Rawlings technology he leans on behind the plate — and it's built into three complete catcher's sets, from a catcher's first year in gear to right now. Here's what separates each one.

AS WORN BY SALVADOR PEREZ

Rawlings Mach Pro Series

IMPAX high-performance padding — multi-layered, pro-preferred protection that absorbs and disperses impact 360° around the shell.
4-way adjustable Dynamic Fit System with removable shoulder caps, so the fit dials in exactly the way Perez dials in his own.
Recessed cage, anti-glare matte finish — maximized sightlines, built from pro catcher feedback rather than adapted down from a lower tier.

Shop Rawlings Mach Pro Sets

ON SALE NOW

Rawlings Velo 2.0

Arc Reactor Core chest protector — an arched polymer plate paired with impact-absorbing foam that disperses hits and dampens ball rebound, built to NOCSAE's commotio cordis standard.
Dynamic Fit System 2.0 — a form-fitting harness with a flexible shoulder-and-back setup that moves with you instead of against you.
Heat Exchange foam & ventilated helmet — keeps you cool through doubleheaders, with an adjustable chin pad and 3-way back plate for a true custom fit.

Shop Rawlings Velo 2.0 Sets

Rawlings Renegade Series

CoolFlo hockey-style helmet — a high-strength, impact-resistant cage that delivers serious protection without the premium price tag.
Arc Reactor Core chest technology — the same core protection found in the higher tiers, so nothing gets watered down at the entry level.
Velcro strap system for fast on/off between innings, with a lightweight leg guard build that's easy to grow into for a catcher's first few seasons.

Shop Rawlings Renegade Sets

About Field General

Field General is a specialty retailer built for catchers. We stock complete baseball and fastpitch softball catcher's sets, mitts, and other gear, chosen and tested by the best in the business.

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