[ad_1]
Everson Pereira said he plans to address his first call up to the big leagues the same way he has approached his entire baseball career: Looking to win.
The Yankees were 9 ¹/₂ games out of an AL wild-card spot when they recalled Pereira on Tuesday before their series opener against the Nationals, but the highly touted prospect was confident in saying that he believes he can help.
“That’s the goal,” Pereira said before the Yankees lost 2-1, dropping them to 10 games back. “Now that I’m here, it’s the same mindset. Try to do everything I can to help this team win.”
Earlier in the day, Pereira was called into an office, where he said management made it seem as if something bad had happened.
Eventually, they told him it was a joke and that he would be taking the field against Washington later.
Pereira, whose parents, two brothers and wife were at the ballpark on Tuesday as part of their first trip to the United States from Venezuela, said he expected making his Yankees debut to be unlike anything he had felt in his life.
The 22-year-old went 0-for-3 with one walk in his MLB debut.
“I think they can expect to see a player that wants to win every day,” he said. “Regardless of what I need to do, how do I do that, just by giving them my 100 percent. It could be running the bases, it could be making a catch, it could be hitting the ball in play. That’s what I like to do and I think that’s what the fans can expect out of me.”
He started in left field, but Pereira said he’s comfortable everywhere in the outfield.
The expectation is that Pereira will see a bulk of his playing time in left, where the Yankees have been searching for a stalwart since Brett Gardner.
Coming into this season, Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Cabrera split the reps in left, but neither was able to stick.
Pereira will presumably get a look in the other outfield spots as well, especially because Harrison Bader will be a free agent after this season, Pereira could be an option to replace Bader in center.
“Obviously, with us scuffling, felt like those two were deserving of an opportunity, deserving of a look,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, referring to Pereira and Oswald Perarza, who also was called up and in the lineup on Tuesday. “Hopefully, it’s something that can kind of spark us in the short term, but also get a look at two guys we think could play an important role in our future, too.”
The Yankees’ reality has forced them to consider development at this point in the season.
With Pereira and Peraza in the lineup together, it should be easier for the youngsters to get better acclimated to daily life as major leaguers.
Pereira, who had a slash line of .300/.373/.548 (91-for-303) with 53 runs in 81 combined games for Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, sounded grateful to be back alongside some of the players he has played with within the Yankees organization.
“Overall what a great experience to share a locker room with all those guys,” he said. “We’ve seen each other, we’ve played together in the minor leagues. It’s a special opportunity for us. We’re dreamers and our dream is right in front of us. To get to the big leagues. Share the experience with those guys, understanding the games and the work we’ve gone through in the minor leagues. Very happy and I’m sure it’s going to be an enjoyable experience.”