Yankees' Oswald Peraza sent for more tests on injured right shoulder, unlikely to be ready for Opening Day
The Yankees' Oswald Peraza reacts after dropping a short pop-up hit by the Phillies’ Trea Turner in the bottom of the second inning at MayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla., on Feb. 25. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
DUNEDIN, Fla. — No news was not necessarily good news for Oswald Peraza.
The Yankees sent the 23-year-old infielder for more tests on his ailing right shoulder on Friday after an MRI on Thursday was inconclusive.
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DUNEDIN, Fla. — No news was not necessarily good news for Oswald Peraza.
The Yankees sent the 23-year-old infielder for more tests on his ailing right shoulder on Friday after an MRI on Thursday was inconclusive.
Manager Aaron Boone said Peraza was sent for dye-injected imaging.
It’s beginning to look less likely each day that Peraza — who has played in only three spring training games — will be ready for Opening Day.
“Let’s see what we get here first and if it’s going to cost him time down or whatever,” Boone said before the Yankees’ 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. “I guess we’ll cross that bridge . . . see what we have and continue to evaluate as we go.”
Peraza was no lock to make the season-opening roster, and his injury might open the door for non-roster infielder Kevin Smith to be with the Yankees in Houston on March 28.
Smith started at shortstop on Friday and went 1-for-2 to raise his average to .222.
“I think he’s done a good job in and around the field,” Boone said of Smith before Friday’s game. “Hasn’t done a ton yet offensively. He’s gotten some hits, though. Try to move him around everywhere and I think he’s showing he could legit play all three positions, which is nice to have.”
Smith, 27, has a .173 career average in 114 major-league games.
Extra bases
DJ LeMahieu (.214) went 2-for-2 with a walk. “DJ looks right to me,” Boone said. “Really good at-bats [Friday].” . . . Jasson Dominguez (Tommy John surgery) is throwing from 75 feet and will begin hitting from both sides of the plate on Monday, Boone said.