Oswald Peraza to start season on IL in latest Yankees concern

MLB

By Mark W. Sanchez

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Oswald Peraza will open the season on the injured list, which leaves the player crushed and the Yankees searching for a backup shortstop. 

Peraza has been diagnosed with a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder, manager Aaron Boone said Saturday, that will force the infielder to refrain from throwing for 6-8 weeks. 

A best-case scenario would involve Peraza beginning to throw again April 20 — three-and-a-half weeks into the season — and then a buildup process would begin.

The Yankees would be happy to see Peraza in May. 

“I want to give everything I can for the team, but there’s certain things I can’t control,” Peraza said through an interpreter. “I’m really devastated.” 

Peraza was competing to make the Opening Day roster as a flexible and defensively gifted backup infielder and was not a shoo-in.

He lost the competition for the starting shortstop role to Anthony Volpe last spring and proceeded to hit .191 in 52 games in the majors last season. 

There was wonder whether Peraza would slot into a backup spot or receive everyday at-bats with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Peraza is instead destined for rehab. 

If he wants to prove himself, he will have to wait. 

“In some ways, it was OK news in that the capsule and everything was OK,” Boone said before the Yankees lost to the Twins, 10-7, at Hammond Stadium. “So it seems like it is just going to be this shutdown period that’s obviously going to cost him some season. But still there’s a lot in front of him in this season.” 

Without Peraza, utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera could serve as the backup shortstop, but he may be needed to bounce around the entire field — and still has to prove he can hit major league pitching. 

Cabrera appeared in 115 games last season and hit just .211 with five home runs.

He continues to impress defensively, with Boone saying he trusts him anywhere, “shortstop included,” but his early spring results have not been encouraging.

After going 0-for-2 with a walk Saturday, Cabrera is 1-for-23 in the Grapefruit League. 

“Hasn’t really gotten rolling yet this spring training,” Boone said of Cabrera. “Got to keep working at it and hopefully got to get that bat going. The potential is there.” 

Among the other possibilities in camp are non-roster invites Josh VanMeter and Kevin Smith, both with major league experience, and prospects Jorbit Vivas and Jeter Downs. 

VanMeter, a lefty hitter with a .640 OPS in 300 games over four seasons, has been used at second and third base but has not gotten a look at shortstop.

If VanMeter cracks the roster, Cabrera (or another capable glove) likely would have to, too, to ensure the team has a backup shortstop. 

“You get a real professional approach [with VanMeter],” Boone said of the 28-year-old. “He controls the zone. He’s not a guy that chases a lot.” 

Smith, who spent the last two seasons with the A’s and owns a career .516 OPS in 114 major league games, has been used often at shortstop but can bounce around the infield. 

“It’s probably more the all-around versatility in the infield [that stands out],” Boone said of the East Greenbush native. “The ability to play short. Impacts the ball a little bit.” 

Boone repeatedly pointed out that the Yankees are just under three weeks away from Opening Day, and a lot can happen between now and then.

The Yankees — who were interested in both Kiké Hernandez and Amed Rosario before the infielders signed with the Dodgers and Rays, respectively — could look externally to fill the spot. 

“A lot of things still could shake out,” Boone said. 

The lone certainty emerging from Saturday was Peraza is out of the mix for at least the first month of the season.

A promising 23-year-old prospect who has yet to translate minor league success into major league success has found setbacks before he has found a breakthrough. 

“I feel frustrated,” Peraza said. “I wanted to make the team, even if it was on the bench. But unfortunately, there’s some things I can’t control.” 

— Additional reporting by Dan Martin in Tampa