Yankees promote top prospect Oswald Peraza as fans demand roster changes

As the complaints and protests were reaching threat level midnight in the Bronx, the New York Yankees have finally made a constructive decision to quiet down their fanbase amid this current dismal stretch of play.

On Thursday, Sept. 1, as rosters were set to expand, the organization promoted No. 3 prospect Oswald Peraza from Triple-A Scranton shortly after it was revealed Anthony Rizzo might miss the series against the Tampa Bay Rays due to a back issue.

We said they wouldn’t do it! But they did! Likely only because they literally had to. But either way, the fans will take it. This is the kind of forward thinking this backwards front office needs.

With uninspiring play up the middle from both Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Gleyber Torres, the Yankees have suffered greatly on offense and defense for the past few months when it was believed at least the defensive side of the ball should’ve been safely secured with those two manning shortstop and second base.

IKF’s offense has further worsened, with his claim to fame as a contact bat no longer holding much weight, while Torres was arguably one of the worst players in all of baseball over the last month of play. Trying out Peraza’s power/speed combo at the MLB level can only help. It cannot get any worse at the moment.

The Yankees have promoted top prospect Oswald Peraza on Sept. 1

Peraza was yanked from the RailRiders’ game on Thursday after belting his 19th homer of the season and was seen hugging his teammates in the dugout. Moments later, the news dropped that he’d be joining the Yankees in Tampa this weekend.

Is that all they needed to see? His 19th homer in his 99th game? The first 18 weren’t good enough? His 33 stolen bases and overall tear the last two months wasn’t enough? Perhaps the timing is right, but the Yankees have needed a jolt/drastic roster change for a while now. Though it feels good right now, it also feels long overdue.

Peraza has made a considerable leap in the Yankees’ system these last two years and though he isn’t viewed as the shortstop of the future — a title held for Anthony Volpe — there’s still room for him to contribute if his bat plays at the next level. He has experience playing second base, too.

After all, there’s a reason the Yankees refused to move him at the trade deadline, too, despite their plethora of shortstop prospects and surplus of highly rated talent.

Fans could get a glimpse of him as early as Friday, and hopefully Peraza provides fans with one less reason to complain as the tightened division race heats up with the calendar turning.

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