Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto seems to have so much fun hitting and running the bases, you might think he would not want to play in the American League, which has the designated hitter.

You would be wrong.

In a surprising answer to that question, ahead of the Giants’ visit to Kansas City, Cueto said Saturday that he wants to finish his career in the American League.

“It’s just a personal preference because I played so much in the National League,” Cueto said through translator Erwin Higueros.

Cueto was an American Leaguer for three months in 2015, when he was traded to Kansas City and helped the Royals win a World Series.

Lest Giants fans start hyperventilating, Cueto was not asked about, nor talking about, where he might sign for next year if he opts out of his Giants contract after this season.

Speaking generally, he said he would like to challenge himself against teams he rarely has faced, like the Red Sox and Yankees.

“I sometimes feel the American League is stronger than the National League,” Cueto said. “It doesn’t matter where I play. It’s baseball. But I would like to finish my career in the American League.”

Cueto is not scheduled to pitch in either game at Kansas City.

Briefly: Manager Bruce Bochy said catcher Buster Posey continues to increase his workload with no concussion symptoms. He ran curves on the bases and hit Saturday. ... Second baseman Joe Panik said he was mad at himself for having the ball pop out of his glove as he tried to tag Rockies catcher Tony Wolters and start a fifth-inning double play Friday night. Panik had no issue with the way Wolters made contact with him.

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.

On deck

Sunday

vs. Rockies

1:05 p.m. NBCSBA

Senzatela (1-0) vs. Samardzija (0-2)

Monday

Off

Tuesday

at Royals

5:15 p.m. NBCSBA

Cain (1-0) vs. Hammel (0-1)

Leading off

Hot prospect: Infielder Christian Arroyo is searing at Triple-A. Entering Saturday, he was batting .467 with three doubles and a homer in 30 at-bats.

— Henry Schulman