VIDEO: Royals Honor Salvador Perez With Special Ceremony as He Becomes a U.S. Citizen

Salvador Perez is a World Series MVP, a six-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove-winning catcher, but on Friday he reached an exciting life milestone he'll truly remember forever. He can finally call himself an American after being sworn in as a U.S. citizen.

At the Kansas City Royals' FanFest, Perez took his oath of citizenship in front of his family, his fans and other members of the organization. The event completed a five-year process for the Venezuelan.

"I would rather be in the World Series, bases loaded, two outs, 3-2, hitting than go through that again," he said. "I was shaking and my eyes were super big. But it was fun."

After missing all of 2019 to Tommy John surgery, Perez will get to take the field again in 2020, this time as a U.S. citizen.

"My elbow is great," he said. "If everything goes well, I'll be in the lineup on opening day."

The Royals have missed Perez and will look to get him and his 162-game averages of 24 home runs, 87 RBI and a .266 average back into their lineup. The 29-year-old Perez was a key part of the Royals' teams that reached the World Series back to back times in 2014 and 2015.