Oswald Peraza, the New York Yankees’ top prospect and shortstop candidate, lost the shortstop battle to Anthony Volpe on Sunday.
The New York Yankees have a long history of success, and their passionate fanbase demands nothing but the best from their team. However, in a move that has left many fans baffled, the team has decided to leave highly ranked prospect Oswald Peraza off their opening-day roster. They handed out the shortstop position to Anthony Volpe, another 21-year-old prospect.
Oswald Peraza, a 22-year-old shortstop, has been turning heads in the Yankees’ minor league system for the past few years. He has been lauded for his impressive speed, strong arm, and solid defensive skills. Many fans had been hoping to see him get his shot in the big leagues this season, but their hopes were dashed when the team decided to leave him off the roster.
Fans Blast Yankees For Assigning Oswald Peraza To The Minor League
The long-fought shortstop battle ended with Anthony Volpe emerging as the ultimate winner on Sunday. The New York Yankees celebrated his selection by promoting his videos on social media. However, in the aftermath of the battle, the losing candidate, Oswald Peraza, was assigned to Triple-A minor league. Peraza, a favorite at the start of the battle, eventually got outperformed by Volpe in all departments. He hit
.314 with three home runs against Peraza’s .190 with one homer.
However, the fans are happy with his demotion. Further, the Yankees’ decision to keep underperforming Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the roster over Oswald Peraza baffled the fans. They took to Twitter to express their disappointment and again accused the Bombers of wrongfully favoring Isiah and other non-performing infielders. Of course, there may be reasons for the team’s decision that are not immediately apparent to fans. The Yankees have a deep and talented roster, and there may simply not be room for Peraza at the moment.
Yankees Front Office Still Views Peraza As Their Future Shortstop
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees still have not given up hope on Oswald Peraza. The skipper Aaron Boone confirmed that he still remains in the team’s long-term plan despite having shifted to the minor league. He further revealed the message he sent down to Peraza before he left for the minors. Apparently, Boone asked Oswald to work hard down in the minor and get his basics strong. Moreover, the skipper even suggested that the situation in the major league can change quickly. If deemed necessary, they might call up Peraza in the later half of the tournament.
On the other hand, GM Brian Cashman too showed support for Oswald Peraza and asked him to be patient and wait for his opportunity. Further, Cashman ruled out any favoritism allegation and said the shortstop battle was fought fairly and in good spirits. At the end of the day, Anthony Volpe emerged as the better candidate, and they had to hand him over the deserving victory. Regardless, Peraza has a bright future lying ahead as he is just 22 years old.