Yankees promoting highly-touted prospect Oswald Peraza
Yankees shortstop Oswald Peraza strikes out in the bottom of the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., on March 21. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – One of the most hyped Yankees’ prospects of the last couple of seasons is headed for the majors.
The club planned to promote Oswald Peraza, who has had a standout season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, in time to be an option for Friday’s game against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
And, perhaps, serve as a shot across the bow of sorts for fellow shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who has played well in spurts this season but has been an overall disappointment.
The 22-year-old Peraza was removed early in Thursday’s game and was seen receiving congratulations in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre dugout from his teammates.
Though Anthony Volpe, generally regarded as the Yankees’ top position prospect, has gotten more attention over the years, plenty of rival scouts and talent evaluators see Peraza as his equal. And some see Peraza as the slightly better overall player, period, a feeling reflected by some in the Yankees’ organization as well.
“He checks every box,” one National League scout said in the spring of Peraza.
The righty-hitting Peraza, besides playing the overall sterling defense he’s always been known for, showed some surprising pop at the plate this season. Peraza was hitting .258 but with 18 homers and a .769 OPS at the time of his call-up. Peraza rocketed through the Yankees’ system in 2021, beginning the season with High-A Hudson Valley and finishing it in Scranton.
"I remember bringing him over a couple of springs ago [to major-league camp] and feeling like maybe some of the focus was on a couple other guys and I remember thinking, ‘You need to be focusing on this guy,’ " Aaron Boone said.. "He’s got a good swing, he’s got some pop in his bat, a really good athlete. He’s got exciting attributes."