Who is Everson Pereira, Yankees prospect gifted to outshine Volpe?

The Yankees’ No. 5 prospect, outfielder Everson Pereira, was the player most likely to break out in 2023, claimed MLB Pipeline. As fate would have it, not only did he lose a race to young Anthony Volpe, but he displayed a rather disappointing start for a player with his reputation. While 2023 was hard for the 22-year-old, he’s not out of support in Yankees clubhouse and is set to burst.

Let's get it Everson Pereira!! 💪💪#NYY #RepBX pic.twitter.com/4eyHjapw2E

— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) January 9, 2023

According to MLB Pipeline:

Everson Pereira was signed for $1.5 million out of Venezuela as one of the best all-around players in the 2017 international class. Because of injuries and the pandemic, he didn’t play 100 games in a season until 2022. Everson Pereira finished the season hitting .277/.350/.469 with 15 homers and 21 steals between High-A and Double-A.

Initially, Everson Pereira wasn’t expected to make it to the big leagues as soon as 2023. But the Bronx Bombers in 2023 were more on the bench than actually on the field. Naturally, Pereira was fast-tracked to the big leagues, along with the club’s then third-best prospect, Oswald Peraza. Volpe, on the other hand, became a fix in the lineup at shortstop. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who spent a long time in the infield in 2022, became a utility option for the roster and was rotated around the field subject to availability.

Everson Pereira, a right-handed outfielder in the minor leagues, hit .283 with a .341 OBP, five home runs, and 13 RBIs in 29 games with Double-A Somerset last season. He did have a strikeout rate of 30.1% and a walk rate of 7.3%, which suggests that his chase rate might be a bit high at this point in his career, but he does have great potential.

Everson Pereira is set to bounce back from injuries

Everson Pereira’s growth has been slowed by a few injuries he’s had over the past few years. But it’s exciting to see him hit at the Double-A level. Pereira is expected to make the jump to Triple-A Scranton this coming season. He could then break out and make an impact for the Yankees down the stretch, reducing the risk of injury and fatigue.

In 2021, the Yankees put Everson Pereira on their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule-5 draft. He’s obviously a good prospect that the Yankees would like to trade or try out this coming season. He is still working on some problems with his game, like how often he whiffs and how easy it is for him to strike out. But Everson Pereira is very talented, and getting to the RailRiders would be a great achievement that would put him on the fast track to play for the Yankees in the future.

2023: Disappointing pinstripes debut

Everson Pereira’s 2023 season with the New York Yankees encapsulated the volatile journey from highly-touted prospect to major league struggles, and now, his future with the team appears uncertain. Starting the year with Somerset and then moving to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Pereira showcased his potential, batting .300/.373/.548 with 18 home runs, 64 RBI, and 11 stolen bases over 81 games. His performance earned him a major league debut on August 22, 2023, amid the Yankees’ efforts to rejuvenate their lineup following a stagnant trade deadline.

Despite the anticipation surrounding his promotion, Pereira’s transition to the majors was marked by significant challenges. Over 27 games and 103 plate appearances, he managed a .151 batting average, .233 on-base percentage, and .194 slugging percentage, without a single home run and only 10 RBI. His wRC+ of 23 and -0.5 fWAR highlighted the gap between his minor league success and major league struggles, with a notably high strikeout rate of nearly 40%.

The Yankees’ offseason moves, including the acquisitions of Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, and Trent Grisham, have further complicated Pereira’s standing on the team, sparking speculation about his future. While some suggest Pereira could be used as a trade chip to strengthen the bullpen, there’s also a consensus on his potential and the benefits of further development time in the minors.

2023 hard lessons set to pay off for 'exposed' Everson Pereira, claims expert #RepBX #Yankeeshttps://t.co/PMzMdHwyxX

— Pinstripes Nation (@pinstripesnat) February 13, 2024

Pereira, who turns 23 in April, has demonstrated significant talent in the minors with a strong arm, good speed, and a solid bat. However, his major league stint underscored the need for improved plate discipline and a reduced strikeout rate. The Yankees are thus faced with a tough decision: trade Pereira for immediate gains or allow him more time to develop but fail to fix the excess outfielder jam.

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Standard Batting

Year	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos
2023	27	103	93	6	14	4	0	0	10	4	0	8	40	0.151	0.233	0.194	0.427	20	18	1	2	0	0	0	7
	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1 Yr	27	103	93	6	14	4	0	0	10	4	0	8	40	0.151	0.233	0.194	0.427	20	18	1	2	0	0	0
162 Game Avg.	162	618	558	36	84	24	0	0	60	24	0	48	240	0.151	0.233	0.194	0.427	20	108	6	12	0	0	0