Oswald Peraza belts homer with future roster spot unsure

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Twice, unprompted, Oswald Peraza mentioned he’s having fun with being a Yankee.

The younger infielder desires to stay in pinstripes and is aware of that he should carry out to make sure he’ll proceed to be part of the staff.

Peraza carried out Saturday, when he smacked his second residence run of the season — a two-run shot that briefly gave the Yankees the lead within the sixth inning — in what turned an elements-affected 11-7 loss to the A’s at Sutter Well being Park.

In what had been a tie recreation, Peraza teed off on a sweeper from righty Justin Sterner, pulling it down the left area line and clearing the wall.

With DJ LeMahieu due again as quickly as Monday in Seattle, Peraza’s spot on the roster has appeared in query.

If this residence run meant a bit extra to him, it confirmed: He seemed towards the dugout, slammed his bat to the dust and pumped his fist on the best way to first base.

“Positively a particular second there,” Peraza mentioned by way of interpreter Marlon Abreu. “Like I mentioned, I’m actually having fun with being a part of this staff and discovering a method simply to remain prepared. The alternatives, you wish to be prepared for after they come.”

There haven’t been a ton of alternatives for Peraza, who additionally has not run with those he has been given.

His 1-for-3 day bumped his common to .205 and OPS to .657, sometimes taking part in third base in opposition to lefties whereas Oswaldo Cabrera has gotten the reps in opposition to righties.

“He clearly hasn’t performed a ton, however I really feel like his at-bats have actually improved from the beginning of the season,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned.

When LeMahieu returns, the Yankees might create roster room by DFA’ing Peraza or Pablo Reyes or optioning Jorbit Vivas.

Maybe Peraza can construct upon an encouraging swing — however doing so is troublesome as a result of the Yankees are anticipated to see a slew of righty starters within the subsequent week.

“Positively some difficulties discovering a option to keep prepared,” Peraza acknowledged. “However on the identical time, I’m additionally having fun with the chance and being right here, discovering methods to organize your self and keep prepared. … Positively having fun with being right here and being a part of this staff.”

Throughout the A’s clubhouse are Yankees reminders. In a single nook are the lockers, so as, of Luis Severino, Miguel Andujar and Gio Urshela.

A bit farther down sits Mitch Spence, a Rule 5 choose taken from the Yankees in December 2023. Injured former prime Yankees prospects Luis Medina and Ken Waldichuk personal lockers, and throughout the room is JP Sears, who got here up by way of the Yankees system and debuted in pinstripes in 2022.

Sears, a part of the Frankie Montas commerce on the 2022 commerce deadline, could be a remorse of Brian Cashman’s, having established himself within the A’s rotation and permitting one run over 5 innings Saturday.

Sears has fond reminiscences of his time with the Yankees — together with a snapshot of Aaron Choose’s behind-the-scenes management.

The lefty pitched nicely sufficient in spring coaching 2022 to crack the Opening Day roster for what could be his main league debut. Two days after he realized he would break camp with the staff, he acquired a textual content from Choose.

“Hey, in the event you’re not busy, I acquired a reservation for you and your loved ones at Don Angie’s,” Choose advised Sears.

He wasn’t busy. After flying from Tampa to New York forward of the beginning of the common season, Sears and his mother and father went to dinner on the West Village spot at which reservations are onerous to return by — except you understand the captain of the Yankees.

Sears and his household merely confirmed up and didn’t should plan any of the small print. On the finish of the meal, Choose arrived, launched himself to Sears’ mother and father and paid for the dinner.

“It looks as if he’s all the time been the particular person he says he’s going to be,” Sears mentioned.

The Yankees transferred the rehab task of righty Scott Effross from the FCL Yankees to Double-A Somerset.

The Yankees haven’t named a beginning pitcher for Sunday’s sequence finale, needing a fifth starter after Carlos Carrasco was DFA’d and wanting Clarke Schmidt to obtain an additional day of relaxation earlier than pitching Monday.

Boone mentioned Ryan Yarbrough seemingly would “determine ultimately, form or type,” that means the bullpen size choice might begin or might log innings as a bulk reliever.

The odd man out of the beginning lineup Saturday: Ben Rice, who sat in opposition to the lefty Sears.

Choose moved to DH, Trent Grisham began in middle area, Cody Bellinger performed proper and Jasson Domínguez remained within the lineup in opposition to a southpaw after his three-homer recreation Friday.

Rice pinch hit within the eighth and struck out in opposition to Mason Miller.

“I’ve sort of checked out it as a option to hold these guys contemporary, too,” Boone mentioned. “However they’re all taking part in just about on a regular basis. Thus far I really feel prefer it’s labored nicely.”