Normally, Tommy John surgery is more commonly associated with pitchers, but recently, the New York Yankees have seen an unusual trend affecting their outfield prospects.
At the end of the 2023 season, Jason Dominguez suffered a UCL injury that required surgery, and now, according to Andy Martino of SNY, another promising outfield prospect, Everson Pereira, will also undergo Tommy John surgery, prematurely ending his 2024 season.
Pereira’s Diminished Trade Value and the Yankees’ Plans
Once considered one of the Yankees’ top prospects, Pereira’s latest injury, combined with his inconsistency at the minor-league level, has significantly eroded his value. His potential as a key piece in trade discussions this season makes his loss particularly significant. This year, Pereira played 40 games, posting a batting line of .265/.346/.512, which included 10 home runs, 27 RBIs, a high strikeout rate of 32.4%, an 8.8% walk rate, and a 118 wRC+.
Pereira’s tendency to strike out has been a persistent issue, highlighted by a 38.8% strikeout rate during his 27-game stint with the Yankees last year, where he managed a meager .151 batting average and .233 on-base percentage. While this small sample size should not solely define his future prospects, there is a growing concern that he may struggle to make consistent contact at higher levels, despite having some dominant seasons in the minors.
- Two top Yankees brass viewed as leading candidates to succeed GM Brian Cashman in New York
- The Yankees have no choice but to survive with 2 ice-cold infielders
- The Yankees have 4 big-time bats they could acquire at the deadline to reinforce first base
With the trade deadline approaching, the Yankees are expected to be proactive. However, with Pereira’s declining value, the team will need to rely on other ascending prospects to strengthen their Major League roster.