Oswald Peraza struggles to earn everyday role with New York Yankees
Yankees’ former top prospect Oswald Peraza faces uphill battle amid inconsistent playing time and limited offensive output.
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| Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees scores on a double by Oswald Peraza during the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 24, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images |
By Adila Ghina and Yuni Utomo
With a runner on first and no outs in the fifth inning of Saturday’s matchup against the Colorado Rockies, Oswald Peraza stepped up to the plate for the New York Yankees. Facing left-hander Kyle Freeland, Peraza connected on an 87.2 mph cutter that hovered over the middle of the plate. He drilled it to left-center for a line-drive double, driving in a run and breaking a 1-1 tie. The hit sparked what would become a 10-run inning and ultimately a dominant 13-1 victory for the Yankees.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge praised Peraza’s contribution after the win, telling the YES Network, “Give him a chance to play every single day, good things are going to happen.”
That endorsement reflects the hope many once had for Peraza. Yet, despite flashes like Saturday’s hit, the young infielder continues to find himself on the fringes of the Yankees' roster.
From top prospect to rotational player
The story of Oswald Peraza's struggles is rooted in unfulfilled expectations. Once touted as one of the Yankees’ top prospects, Peraza’s trajectory has steeply declined since losing the 2023 Opening Day shortstop battle to Anthony Volpe. Despite previously earning a start in the 2022 postseason and being named the Yankees’ No. 3 prospect by The Athletic’s Keith Law, Peraza’s development has stalled.
He’s now batting just .167 across 32 games with a .241 on-base percentage, two home runs, and a .560 OPS. With 20 strikeouts to only six walks in 79 plate appearances, his lack of offensive output has left the Yankees searching for answers at third base.
A missed opportunity at third base
Third base has been a revolving door for the Yankees this season. With DJ LeMahieu sidelined early due to a calf strain and Jazz Chisholm Jr. moving to second base, the position was ripe for the taking. Peraza, however, has failed to seize the opportunity.
The team has experimented with several options—Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera, Pablo Reyes, and Jorbit Vivas—but entered Sunday’s game with a combined 61 wRC+ from their third basemen, ranking second worst in MLB. Cabrera, one of Peraza’s closest friends and former minor league roommate, recently fractured his ankle and is unlikely to return this season.
That injury should have opened more playing time for Peraza, but his inconsistent offense has complicated the picture.
Defensive prowess not enough to secure role
Defense has never been a concern for Peraza. Many evaluators saw him as the superior defender when compared to Volpe before the latter won a Gold Glove in 2023. However, in today’s league, even elite defense needs to be paired with at least passable offense.
While Peraza has shown a strong glove and continues to impress with his work ethic, his bat has lagged behind. Despite a respectable .776 OPS at Triple-A, those numbers haven’t translated to the majors. His contact issues—highlighted by a 34.3 percent whiff rate and a below-average 75.2 percent zone-contact rate—underscore his struggle to adjust to MLB pitching.
Swing changes and incremental progress
Yankees hitting coach James Rowson noted that Peraza has been refining his swing and approach. Rowson pointed to improved mechanics and a better ability to drive through pitches.
“You’re in that position where you’re able to get behind the baseball and drive through it,” Rowson said. “You can tell when he squares one up. He’s doing that more consistently.”
According to Rowson, it’s not just about hits—it’s about how Peraza competes in each at-bat. Has he made the pitcher work? Did he force a quality pitch? These are the small wins the team wants to see more of, even if they don’t always show up in the box score.
Still, those incremental gains haven’t yet turned into consistent results.
Understanding the deeper numbers
Peraza’s struggles can be measured with advanced metrics as well. Baseball Prospectus’ SEAGER statistic, which evaluates hitters’ swing decisions, ranks Peraza at the bottom of the Yankees’ roster with a 2.4 rating.
While he’s seen more pitches in the strike zone than most hitters (54.4 percent), he hasn’t been able to make the most of those opportunities. His swing decisions and contact ability remain areas in need of development.
“I’m feeling more comfortable,” Peraza said earlier this month. “I’m making a lot of adjustments every day.”
The looming logjam and uncertain future
Jazz Chisholm Jr., currently sidelined with a strained oblique, is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon. When he returns, either he or LeMahieu will likely reclaim the third base role. That looming roster crunch could push Peraza even further down the depth chart.
Peraza is aware of the stakes.
“I want to play every day for the New York Yankees,” he said. “I can’t control that. I practice every day. I want to play here for a long time.”
But in a performance-driven league, desire is not enough.
What lies ahead for Peraza?
The Yankees signed Oswald Peraza for $175,000 as an international free agent in 2016. Nearly a decade later, they’re still waiting for a return on that investment at the major league level. Peraza’s blend of athleticism, bat speed, and defensive skill once made him a key figure in the team’s future plans. Now, he’s fighting just to stick on the roster.
His story reflects the brutal nature of baseball development. High potential and a solid minor league track record don't guarantee success in the majors. And for Oswald Peraza, the struggle to prove he belongs in the Yankees’ long-term plans continues.
Unless he begins to show more consistent results at the plate, Peraza may find himself replaced when Chisholm returns. And as the Yankees push for another postseason run, their margin for patience continues to shrink.
For now, the former top prospect is playing for his future—one at-bat at a time.
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