Unlucky Oswald Peraza loses his place on the Yankees roster

BALTIMORE — With Aaron Judge’s return to the lineup, the Yankees had to shuffle their roster with some changes on Friday. Unfortunately, it caught young Oswald Peraza by surprise.

The Yankees brought Aaron Judge back into action for the series opener in Baltimore by activating him. In order to create room on the major league roster, they sent infield prospect Oswald Peraza to the minors.

With Aaron Judge’s return, the Yankees had the option to remove an outfielder from the roster. However, they decided to prioritize outfield depth, considering Judge’s need for playing as the designated hitter for some days and occasional rest as he continues to recover from a not-fully-healed torn ligament in his right big toe.

Outfielders Greg Allen, Billy McKinney, and, to a lesser extent, Jake Bauers were potential alternatives to Oswald Peraza. However, none of them have options remaining, which means they couldn’t be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers. On the other hand, Oswald Peraza had options, making him the unfortunate player to be removed from the Yankees’ roster once again after he lost the starting shortstop battle to Anthony Volpe during the spring.

Oswald Peraza could become the Yankees shortstop in 2023 — Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Despite performing well at Triple-A, Oswald Peraza hasn’t had significant success during his limited opportunities with the Yankees in the major league this season. Nevertheless, Aaron Boone has expressed satisfaction with Peraza’s professionalism throughout the year, as he has consistently transitioned between the major and minor leagues.

The Yankees commended Oswald Peraza’s unwavering determination and impressive performance during the season. Despite facing challenges, Oswald Peraza maintained a strong and valuable presence, showcasing his talent with the RailRiders and proving his capabilities as a player.

“Just proud of the way he’s not been discouraged by anything and gone out and had another valuable, really strong season,” Boone said of Oswald Peraza. “Like he’s played well, and that’s not an easy thing to do.”

IKF-dependent Yankees

With Judge’s return and Oswald Peraza’s departure, along with Donaldson’s placement on the injured list, Boone mentioned that Isiah Kiner-Falefa would be given more opportunities at third base going forward. Although primarily an infielder, Kiner-Falefa has spent most of the season in the outfield, a position he familiarized himself with during spring training.

Having earned a Gold Glove at third base in 2020, Kiner-Falefa’s versatility has been evident this season as he has featured in various positions. He has seen action in left field, center field, right field, second base, shortstop, and of course, third base. In addition to his defensive prowess, he has even taken the mound on four occasions to pitch.

The Carlos Rodon Coverup

Carlos Rodon‘s recent act of covering up the Yankees’ Starr Insurance patch during his last start caught the attention of the Uni Watch blog, earning him admiration. The blog featured a headline that hailed him as a “Hero Pitcher” for his apparent rebellion against the uniform advertisement.

Despite the attention garnered by his act, Rodon clarified to the Daily News that covering the patch was not a deliberate action on his part.