Yankees prospect Everson Pereira adjusting well in Double-A
Everson Pereira, a minor-league prospect of the Yankees, poses during picture day at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 15 in Tampa, Fla. Credit: Getty Images/Julio Aguilar
Upon learning of his promotion to Double-A Somerset on July 13, Yankees outfield prospect Everson Pereira said it was the most rewarding and emotional moment of his season.
The organization’s No. 10 overall prospect, according to MLB.com, said he was surprised by how he was being pitched.
“Nowadays a lot of people are using analytics, so I was a little surprised the first couple of games,” said Pereira, 21. “But I realized a lot through the advanced reports I’ve received here, so I’m ready to go against Double-A pitchers.”
The 6-foot, 191-pound righthanded hitter signed with the Yankees as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2017. He said his second game at Somerset, in which he went 2-for-5 after an 0-for-5 debut, showcased his ability to adjust to a higher level of competition.
“It was a little bit of an example of how I know that guys will pitch me differently than they did in High-A,” Pereira said. “But I was able to do some damage in the second game.”
Pereira hit .274 with nine home runs, 43 RBIs, 55 runs, 19 stolen bases and an .809 OPS for High-A Hudson Valley this year and has continued to find success. Entering Friday, he’s batting .286 with a home run and five runs scored in his first seven games for Somerset.
“The goal is to continue to move up in the organization,’’ Pereira said, “but at the same time help the team every single day and work on my development with it.”
Garcia with Somerset
Deivi Garcia, who made eight starts for the Yankees (2020-21) and was ranked as the organization’s No. 3 prospect in 2020, according to MLB.com, started for Somerset on Thursday in his first outing in more than two months.
He was placed on the injured list by Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 31 because of a loss of sensation in his fingers.
Garcia struck out six and allowed two hits in four shutout innings against Richmond. He struggled before being placed on the IL, going 0-3 with a 10.38 ERA in 21 2⁄3 innings.
Garcia went 3-4 with a 5.27 ERA in parts of two seasons with the Yankees and started Game 2 of the 2020 American League Division Series against Tampa Bay. After being demoted to Scranton in 2021, he went 3-7 with a 6.85 ERA.
