When the Yankees surrendered on the season — a decision that looks more ironic with seemingly each victory — September became about allowing the prospects to test themselves in the major leagues.
Oswald Peraza, with a pair of unproven styles of attacking pitches, is a prime example of a rookie who is playing every day and tinkering his way into what he hopes will be a long major league stay.
The talented Yankees infielder used a heavy leg kick his entire professional career. As he got off to a slow start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, he abandoned the leg kick in favor of a toe tap, which allows a bit more time for Peraza to make a swing decision.
And about a month ago, he said, he abandoned that adjustment and reverted to the leg kick.
Now playing every day at the major league level and getting another start at third base Thursday, he volleys between the two approaches, often using a leg kick early in at-bats and the toe tap when he reaches two strikes.
“He’s trying to find out what works up here,” hitting coach Sean Casey said before the Yankees finished a series against the Tigers in The Bronx with a 10-3 loss. “This is a different world up here. … I think he’s trying to see: Does the leg kick work? And can I be on time there?
“I think he’s trying to figure out what’s his best way to be on time because either way, he’s got big-time power.”
The hybrid approach has begun to benefit Peraza, who entered play 7-for-15 with three doubles in his past four games.
He had collected just 11 hits in his first 29 major league games this year before going 1-for-4 Thursday.
Solely using the leg kick, the now 22-year-old lost out on the shortstop job to Anthony Volpe during spring training and then hit .188 in his first 12 big-league games in April and May upon his initial call-up.
He was back briefly in July, when he again did not hit much, this time mostly employing the toe tap and receiving sporadic play time.
When the Yankees acknowledged last week they had fallen out of the playoff race, they demoted several veterans. Releasing Josh Donaldson and benching Isiah Kiner-Falefa cleared third base for the Triple-A shortstop, and Peraza has looked natural at the spot and in a better rhythm at the plate.
“His talent is evident, just with his speed and how effortless he plays the field and how he’s able to move around,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I know there’s life in the bat, too.
“Hopefully he will benefit from this regular playing time the rest of the way and continue to trend the way he’s going.”
As Peraza ascended through the system, he was known more for his bat-to-ball skills than his power, though he broke out for 18 minor league home runs in 2021 and 19 last year. The leg kick, he said, probably adds a bit of muscle to his swing, and the toe tap aids his balance.
He might pick a path as his career continues, but he is trying both right now, depending on the situation, and beginning to see the results he has been looking for.
As have the Yankees, who devoted playing time to Peraza, Everson Pereira, Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells only to go on a run that brought them onto the periphery of a wild-card chase.
“To have the opportunity to play every day, that in itself gives you confidence to go out there and not worry if your name is in the lineup or not,” Peraza said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “Every day just making the necessary adjustments and taking in the experience at this level.
“Definitely an opportunity for me to go out there and play the game the way I know I can.”