ARLINGTON, Texas — Former New York Yankees infielder Oswald Peraza endured a rough night on the mound Wednesday when his old teammate Kyle Higashioka launched a three-run homer off him in the Texas Rangers’ 20-3 blowout of the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field.
The two ex-Yankees crossed paths in an unlikely matchup. Peraza, now with the Angels after a trade deadline move, was pressed into pitching duty in the seventh inning. Facing his former Bronx teammate, he watched Higashioka crush his 10th home run of the season, a shot that capped off a disastrous outing for the 25-year-old utility man.
Peraza’s painful pitching outing goes wrong
Peraza took the mound with the Angels already trailing badly. Moving over from first base, he lasted only one-third of an inning, giving up eight earned runs on seven hits.
The Venezuelan threw 21 pitches, all registering between 30 and 40 mph. The slow offerings gave Texas hitters batting practice–like swings, and they showed no hesitation in teeing off.
It was Peraza’s second career pitching appearance. Just four days earlier, he worked two scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs in his mound debut. The contrast on Wednesday could not have been sharper.
Higashioka delivers crushing blow to ex-Yankees mate
The seventh inning brought an awkward reunion. Higashioka, now the Rangers’ catcher, stepped in against his former Yankees teammate and wasted no time. He drilled the final pitch of Peraza’s outing into the seats for a three-run homer.
The blast pushed Texas’ lead to 20-3 and effectively ended Peraza’s short stint on the mound. Higashioka showed little sentimentality toward their shared history, finishing the game with five RBIs to match his career high.
Yankees connection between former teammates
Both Peraza and Higashioka spent years in the Yankees organization before their paths diverged.
Peraza debuted for New York in 2022, hitting .306 in 18 games and raising hopes that he might be a fixture in the infield. But over parts of four seasons, he struggled to lock down a role, batting just .190 across 145 games. His defensive versatility kept him valuable, but he never secured an everyday spot.
Higashioka, meanwhile, had been part of the Yankees’ system since 2008 and made his big league debut in 2017. He served primarily as a backup catcher until he was dealt to San Diego in the 2023 trade that brought Juan Soto to the Bronx. He later signed with Texas, where he has earned steadier playing time.
Trade deadline move sends Peraza west
At this year’s trade deadline, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sent Peraza to the Angels in exchange for outfield prospect Wilberson De Pena and international bonus pool money. The deal gave Peraza a fresh start after limited opportunities in New York.
The Angels have leaned on his versatility to fill holes, even turning to him as an emergency pitcher when games got out of hand.
Peraza’s second mound try ends badly
The Angels had seen Peraza succeed on the mound just days earlier, when he tossed two shutout innings against the Cubs. That outing likely encouraged manager Ron Washington to call on him again to save the bullpen during Wednesday’s blowout.
This time, the strategy backfired. Rangers hitters treated his soft pitches as target practice, and the game’s low point came when Higashioka, his former teammate, capped the inning with a homer that underscored the mismatch.
Higashioka capitalizes on opportunity
For Higashioka, the at-bat was another chance to prove his value in Texas. His 10th homer of the season came in a lopsided game but carried weight in the box score. He has delivered steady production while enjoying more regular playing time than he ever received in New York.
The three-run shot added emphasis to a five-RBI night, a performance that showed his ability to seize opportunities when given them.
Position players on the mound a growing trend
Peraza’s outing reflected a modern trend in MLB. More teams are using position players to pitch in blowouts, protecting their relievers for competitive games. While the approach saves bullpen arms, it often leads to tough situations for the position players asked to pitch. The Yankees had such an experiment with Isiah Kiner-Falefa in 2023.
For Peraza, the experience showed how quickly fortunes can turn. Days after a clean pitching debut, he was humbled by his former teammate. Higashioka’s blast will be remembered as the defining image of their first meeting as opponents.
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