In his second audition for the starting shortstop job, hyped Yankees prospect Oswald Peraza went 1-for-3 against the Rays on Tuesday afternoon, days after posting the same numbers, while adding a walk, on Saturday.
For Peraza, who got his first taste of the major leagues late last season, the goal this spring is simple. To prove himself worthy of the starting job so his cup of coffee in the bigs last season turns into where his long big league career began.
“Once you go to the big leagues and you experience that level of baseball, you definitely want to be playing at that level,” Peraza said, via MLB.com. “That's my goal. My goal is to try to win this competition and establish myself as a shortstop in the big leagues.”
Peraza showed plenty of promise last season, batting .306 with a home run in 18 games, and even got a taste of the playoffs amid the struggles of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who he will have to beat out to earn the starting job. While that is his clear goal, he is also keeping his focus on his own work, and can only hope the results come along with it.
“I felt really good coming into camp. But honestly, I'm focused on my work and my job and my responsibilities,” Peraza said. “I understand there is a competition for shortstop, but for me, I've got to walk my path. I've got to focus on what I need to do and pay attention to the small details.”
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