Pereira, Peraza get MLB call, Yankees promote The Martian
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Follow UsThe New York Yankees have finally called up outfielder Everson Pereira and infielder Oswald Peraza to their major-league roster, according to Brendan Kuty, who reported citing sources within the Yankees. The Yankees are also planning to make them play each of the remaining 38 games.
Additionally, highly-touted outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez, famously nicknamed “The Martian,” inches closer to the MLB cap with a promotion to the RailRiders, as confirmed by a team insider. However, there were no words from the Yankees about another big-ticket aspirant Austin Wells.
Yankees callup of AAA-duo was expected
Alterations are on the horizon for the pinstriped uniforms after the Yankees were pushed to the last spot within the AL East and trailing the third wild-card spot by a nine-game margin with 38 games to go. Facing the harsh reality of their disappointing 2023 campaign with a current record of 60-64, the New York Yankees are expected to initiate a series of strategic moves.
Peraza, aged 23, held the position of the Yankees’ second-best prospect heading into this season and was widely expected to be the starting shortstop for the big-league team on Opening Day. However, he lost out to top prospect Anthony Volpe during a spring training competition that also featured Isiah Kiner-Falefa. While Peraza has seen limited action in the majors this season with 64 plate appearances, his performance at Triple-A has been notable, with a .268 batting average, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and an impressive .846 OPS across 63 games. Notably, he brings robust defensive skills along with his hitting prowess.
On the other hand, Pereira, aged 22, has earned the distinction of being ranked among the 100 best overall prospects in the game. Displaying his talents across Double-A Somerset and Triple-A, he has maintained a solid .300 batting average accompanied by 18 home runs, 64 RBI, and an impressive .921 OPS over the course of 81 games.
Pereira is acknowledged as an exceptional center fielder with above-average defensive skills. He boasts an impressive speed on the basepaths and possesses strikingly quick bat speed, which translates into substantial power, particularly in pull situations. Pereira has already registered 11 home runs in 55 games this season, surpassing his previous year’s performance of 14 homers achieved in almost double the playing time. Furthermore, it’s been observed that he has notably enhanced his physical strength since the previous season, enabling him to drive the ball to the opposite field, although the majority of his home runs tend to favor the pull side.
A step forward for Dominguez
Jasson Dominguez, at the age of 20, has been extensively hyped as one of the standout prospects in the sport. Back in 2019, when The Martian was just 16 years old, the Yankees notably granted him a franchise-record $5.1 million signing bonus upon his recruitment from the Dominican Republic. During his time in Double-A, Dominguez has compiled a batting average of .254, along with a notable tally of 15 home runs, 66 runs batted in, and a .781 OPS across 109 games. His continued display of impressive power capabilities, coupled with exceptional running speed, solid or superior defensive performances in the center field position, and a commendable ability to control the strike zone, particularly noteworthy considering his age.
Brendan Kuty of The Athletic was the first to break this news.
Dominguez has been having an outstanding month with Double-A Somerset, boasting a batting line of .380/.438/.608 with 12 extra-base hits, eight stolen bases, and a 183 wRC+ in August. Over his last 50 games, Dominguez has maintained a .302/.382/.443 batting line, along with 19 extra-base hits, 21 stolen bases, and a 128 wRC+.
Throughout the season, “The Martian” has put together a batting line of .254/.367/.414 with an OPS of .781, tallying 15 home runs and 66 RBIs in 109 games. The Yankees are nurturing the hope that Dominguez, who holds the second spot in the team’s farm system prospects, will eventually claim the role of the center fielder in the future of the Bronx.
Monday marked a significant stride for “The Martian,” a highly promising young talent within the Yankees’ system, and at just 20 years of age, he has a promising path ahead.
The possibility remains open that Dominguez could potentially earn a shot at making the big-league roster during the spring training of 2024. This trajectory mirrors that of Volpe, who, after participating in only 22 Triple-A games, secured the starting shortstop position for the Yankees. Dominguez’s advancement is based on his commendable performance. In his last 42 games, he has maintained a batting average of .333, along with contributing five home runs, 29 RBI, and an impressive .895 OPS. His base-stealing prowess is also evident, having successfully stolen 19 bases. Dominguez has also had the distinction of participating twice in the MLB All-Star Futures Game.
Will the decision save the Yankees’ season?
With the current situation at hand, the Yankees are well aware of their circumstances. Fangraphs’ analysis assigns them an incredibly slim 0.5 percent probability of making it to the playoffs. In a meeting held on Saturday, team owner Hal Steinbrenner, GM Brian Cashman, and manager Aaron Boone convened to thoroughly evaluate the team’s condition and future prospects. Among the subjects discussed were the prospective prospects who should be introduced to the major league scene in the remaining duration of the season. The choices of Everson Pereira and Oswald Peraza for such promotions were evident and straightforward.
In addition, there exists a possibility that catching prospect Austin Wells, holding the eighth rank in the team’s system could be elevated to the big leagues on September 1, a day when the active rosters expand from 26 to 28 players. Both Pereira and Peraza are poised to experience ample playing time, providing them with opportunities to acclimate to the challenges of the grand stage.
The potential inclusion of Wells and the continuous presence of Pereira and Peraza on the field signify a shift in strategy for the Yankees. This unforeseen turn of events is indeed striking. Considering the team’s standing as the expected favorites to seize the AL East title, particularly after their journey to the AL Championship Series last year, the present scenario is one of urgency and improvisation. The Yankees’ narrative has altered, and they are now grappling to navigate a more turbulent course.
The 2024 expectations
The Yankees are proactively assessing the potential inclusion of both Peraza and Pereira in the lineup for the Opening Day of the 2024 season. Looking ahead, the team is keen on determining whether these two players can secure spots on the roster for the next campaign. Pereira’s situation is particularly interesting, as there might be a couple of openings in the outfield for the upcoming season. The departure of center fielder Harrison Bader as a free agent this offseason could lead to a vacancy in that position. In the meantime, Pereira is anticipated to take up the role of left fielder for the remainder of the ongoing season. This comes after GM Cashman’s inability to adequately address the left field position during the winter, which resulted in a revolving door of players in that spot.
If Pereira performs exceptionally well in his current role, he would undoubtedly position himself as a strong contender for one of the outfield positions in the upcoming season. Although the center field is Pereira’s natural position, the Yankees have strategically distributed his appearances between Double-A and Triple-A, allowing him to play in all three outfield positions. This versatile exposure has provided Pereira with a level of comfort in both the corners of the outfield, enhancing his potential candidacy for a regular role in the team’s future lineup.
Peraza’s prospects for becoming a regular player in the 2024 season are somewhat uncertain due to the existing vacancies in the roster. The situation becomes a bit unclear when considering the potential scenarios for the next season. One possibility is that if the Yankees opt to trade Gleyber Torres in the offseason, this could open up an obvious chance for Peraza and Volpe to form the team’s double-play combination in the middle infield.
Additionally, there’s the question of DJ LeMahieu‘s role as an everyday player. Should the Yankees decide that LeMahieu no longer fits that role, Peraza could potentially share playing time with him at the third base position. This could be particularly relevant given the expected departure of Josh Donaldson for the following season. The situation presents a significant opportunity for Peraza, representing one of the most substantial chances he’s encountered during his limited exposure to major league play.
The status of Anthony Rizzo’s availability for the remainder of the season remains uncertain. Should the Yankees make the decision to officially sideline Rizzo, LeMahieu could assume first base duties, while Peraza would step into the third base position. The Yankees’ optimal scenario would involve Peraza also covering second base and shortstop on days when Gleyber Torres or Anthony Volpe require a break. However, it’s evident that a significant opportunity awaits Peraza to feature as a regular player for the remainder of the season, particularly if Rizzo’s participation is ruled out.
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About damn time the Yankees brought back Peraza and called up Pereira. I am disappointed that the organization neglected to call up Austin Wells. Is this enough to save Aaron Boone’s job as manager? Doubtful.
I’m curious why Austin Wells is continually mentioned as the next callup. He plays only catcher, and, despite the gushy article that appeared in the Daily News the other day, appears to be ill-suited for the role. At A Ball this year, he threw out only 15% on attempted steals. At AA, he threw out 14%, and at AAA, yikes!, he’s thrown out only 7%, nailing just two basestealers in 30 attempts. That’s not a major league catcher. The News article said he’s working with a weighted ball to improve his arm, but his throwing is a good deal worse than it was last year. Unless they intend to DH him in a platoon with Stanton, why would you bring him up? He apparently has a decent batting eye and draws some walks while hitting with some power, but his stats aren’t what you expect from an elite prospect. Would this lefthanded hitter improve offensive production from behind the plate? Maybe. Higgy’s hitting has improved since he took on the primary role as catcher, and he can hit the ball out. Based on his minor league output, I doubt Wells is that much better, if he’s better at all, and the difference probably isn’t close to being large enough if the league can steal his jock. Okay, he probably is a better backup on offense than Rortvedt, but that’s not saying much. Right now, the hoopla around Wells seems like hype. I know he insists that he’ll be an MLB catcher, but were I the Yankees I’d hand him a first baseman’s mitt and have him play exclusively at that bag for the rest of next season. They will need a first sacker soon.