TAMPA — Given Giancarlo Stanton's uncertainty, the top prospects, who were considered to be capable of breaking the Yankees and camp, have once again been pushed a bit into the background.
After a 9-1 loss to the Pirates at Recom Park on Tuesday, the Yankees have surprisingly chosen Everson Pereira for Triple A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.
The early decision – two weeks before the opening day – will further raise the brows.
Outside of his strength at the plate, Pereira was held at high value as a right-handed batsman for a heavy-handed team, especially in a pool of DH candidates.
It was probably seen as a key factor for Pereira to beat camp with his team.
He was also on track to start playing in the outfield after undergoing Tommy John's surgery last season on June 4th, but it is possible that the lack of defensive personnel had made the Yankees head turn differently.
Before making a decision, Pereira said he was trying not to think about Stanton's opening, but that he was “ready” for the next step.
“I'm trying to do my job. I don't want to expect anything big, I just want to be healthy, strong and help my team,” Pereira posted Tuesday.
In 2023, Pereira was called to the majors for the first time and played in 27 games, but was struggling to adapt to big league pitching, reaching 93-14 with 40 strikeouts.
However, the Yankees were aware of improvement at the age of 23 this spring when they attacked manager James Lawson.
“I like him. This spring he's really square and baseball looks like it's coming up in that light,” Lawson said Tuesday. “I see spins a lot, but the ball is spinning in a really good way now. He doesn't have much top spin or side spin. He has a lot of backspin from the ball he's hitting. He has the power. I mean, we know that. He can drive a good baseball just like anyone. Now it's just a matter of getting to that point consistently.”
This spring, Pereira has reached .350 with an OPS of 1.090 in nine games. He tallied two home runs and three RBIs, but also recorded seven strikeouts.
The Yankees seem to choose Pereira's patience, pushing more consistent reps in the minor camp.
“You can see his confidence coming back,” Brad Ausmus said. “It's true, he's a very good athlete and has real power on the right side. So, he's a guy who can join the mix at some point during the season, if not now.”
