During a challenging season marked by a prolonged hitting slump and doubts about his role in the New York Yankees infield, Oswald Peraza continues to receive public support from team captain Aaron Judge. After Peraza’s critical RBI double helped ignite a 10-run inning in the Yankees’ 13-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, Judge emphasized his belief in Peraza’s potential and urged patience with the young utilityman.
Give him a chance to play every single day,
Judge said on Saturday, via The Athletic.
Good things are going to happen.
—Aaron Judge, Yankees Captain
Peraza’s Ongoing Offensive Challenges and Performance Metrics
Despite the encouragement, Peraza’s offensive numbers remain troubling. Having batted just .191 with a -0.5 bWAR over 191 plate appearances in 2023, Peraza spent much of last season in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His batting average entering Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels sits at .167, with only two home runs, nine RBIs, and five doubles in 72 at-bats this season.
His OPS of .560 is considerably lower than the league average of .711, and he has been unable to capitalize on increased playing time prompted by Oswaldo Cabrera’s ankle injury. Compounding these difficulties, Peraza maintains a 20-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 79 plate appearances, highlighting his struggle with plate discipline, which is crucial for maintaining a role on the roster beyond being a light-hitting reserve.
Peraza’s Desire to Play and Yankees’ Infield Uncertainty
Peraza remains vocal about his willingness to contribute daily to the team despite uncertainties about his future. Speaking to The Athletic, he expressed his commitment to continuous improvement and eagerness for regular playing time.
I want to play every day for the New York Yankees,
Peraza said. I can’t control that, he added.
I practice every day. I want to play every day.
—Oswald Peraza, Yankees Infielder
The Yankees face infield decisions pending the return of All-Star second baseman Jazz Chisholm from an oblique injury. Veteran DJ LeMahieu, a two-time batting champion who has primarily played second base during Chisholm’s absence, might shift to third base, adding to the uncertainty about Peraza’s role moving forward.