It happened. It finally happened. The New York Yankees finally called up a top prospect in hopes of salvaging some part of what has been a disastrous season to date. Everson Pereira, the Yankees #3 prospect and #80 overall by MLB.com, has been called to the bigs via Jack Curry on Twitter.
2017 International Free Agency
The Yankees signed Everson Pereira out of Venezuela in 2017 for $1.5 million. In what has become an already star-studded international free agency class, Pereira aims to add his name to the mix. Some of the free agents signed in that year include Luis Robert, Wander Franco, Julio Rodriguez, and, in case you forgot, Shohei Ohtani.
Coming out of Venezuela, Pereira needed to prove that his hit tools would carry over into the minor leagues. Originally thought of as an above average defender in the outfield, Pereira has since developed nicely into a complete player. Let’s look into how he got here:
Everson Pereira (38) of the Pulaski Yankees follows through on his swing against the Greeneville Reds at Calfee Park on June 23, 2018 in Pulaski, Virginia. The Reds defeated the Yankees 6-5. (Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images via AP)
Low Minor League Seasons
After signing, Pereira was placed in rookie ball with Pulaski in 2018. As a 17 year old, he held his own. In 41 games he totaled 44 hits with a respectable .712 OPS. The following season he was promoted to Low A in Staten Island. Battling through injuries in 2019, he found it tough to stay on the field. Subsequently, he batted a measly .171/.216/.257 over 18 games.
The 2020 season has a wash for minor leaguers. Though, Pereira used this time off to his advantage. Now ranked the #13 prospect in the system, there was hope for steady improvement. He dialed in his hitting abilities and began his quick ascent in the organization. The 2021 season was a coming out part for Pereira. Although he only played in 49 games, Pereira enjoyed a scorching hot stretch. He reached High A in Hudson Valley, where he mashed an incredible 14 home runs in 27 games. At this point, Pereira was beginning to silence some evaluators who did not believe in his hit tool. In all, Pereira finished his 2021 season only playing in 49 games across three levels, but compiling 20 home runs with 10 doubles and a 1.084 OPS. Still, he was not receiving much external love from rankings lists or scouts, who pegged him as the 17th best prospect in the organization.
2022 Season
In the hopes of carrying over his hot hitting, Pereira returned to Hudson Valley for the first half of the 2022 season. While he couldn’t completely replicate his performance at the end of 2021, he managed to put up more than passable numbers in 73 games there. He recorded a slash line of .274/.354/.455 for an .809 OPS before earning a promotion to Double A with the Somerset Patriots. Concluding the year in Somerset, the outfielder, at 21 years old, achieved a .846 OPS in 29 games.
Everson Pereira saving a run scoring against the Dunedin Blue Jays (John Brophy / Pinstriped Prospects)
2023 Season
The Yankees needed to see a little but more from Pereira to start this minor league season. His hitting tools had improved drastically since they signed him, but he needed to prove that Double A pitching could not contain him. Well, he answered their uncertainties. In about a third of a season with Somerset, he posted a .908 OPS while cutting down his strikeouts. Thanks to his ongoing progress, the team called him up to Scranton on the Fourth of July.
Quite frankly, all he has done in Scranton is hit. And hit. And…hit! In about 6 weeks of time in Scranton, he became one of the most feared batters in the lineup. His Triple A stats this season: .312/.386/.551 for a .937 OPS. Not too bad for a 22 year old who started the previous season in High A.
Yes, this is a different Everson Pereira home run. 💣
Pereira notches his SECOND multi-homer game of the season — both against the @WooSox. #EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/rJYQMxwZwW
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) August 19, 2023
What to Hope for in the Bronx?
Pereira continues to show his hitting improvement. The hope for the Yankees is that he solidifies himself as the best option for manning left field for the remainder of the season and beyond. With the merry-go-round that has occurred at that spot over the past few seasons, Pereira will hopefully be a breath of fresh air there.
Hitting wise, Pereira is an interesting study. With Scranton, he has mashed right handed pitching and struggled more against left handers. Though a smaller sample against left-handed pitchers, Pereira will need to continue to make adjustments now in the bigs. An encouraging stat for Yankee fans everywhere should be his proven success with RISP. In Triple A, he has posted a 1.105 OPS with runners in scoring position. For a major league team that has found incredible difficulty in manufacturing runs, hopefully Pereira’s knack for delivering in these spots will rub off on the rest of the lineup.
A solid outfield defender, Pereira may never been a gold glove caliber player, but is more than serviceable in the field. He will make the plays he should make. Unfortunately, that is something that has been overlooked as the Yankees have tried to convert infielders into corner outfielders.
Everson Pereira had a walk-off sac-fly during an exciting series in Scranton (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders)
Everson Effect
At minimum, calling up the third-ranked prospect in your system will demonstrate your commitment to his development and signify your dedication to him for the foreseeable future. The Yankees, by waiting to call him up now, are saving a year of service time so long as he does not exceed 130 AB. In a de facto “Major League Spring Training”, Pereira will have the next 40 games to prove his worth. Even if it is a bumpy road for him, the Yankees will find answers for the future. Could this be a waving of the white flag for the season? Maybe. Though, the Yankees are doing something they would have been smart to do a few weeks back if not for service time manipulation.
For Pereira, a new and hungry face in the locker room should be welcomed by the team. For fans, there is a new player to keep tabs on and quite frankly, a reason to watch games for the remainder of the season. It really could be a win-win for everyone involved. At best, the player cements himself as the option in the outfield going forward. At worst, he learns what he needs to improve on in the offseason and comes back ready to roll in February. The year really could not get much worse for the Yankees, so now is the best time to play the kids and see what they can bring to the table.
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