Oswald Peraza belts homer with future roster spot in doubt: ‘special moment’

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Twice, unprompted, Oswald Peraza said he is enjoying being a Yankee.

The young infielder wants to remain in pinstripes and knows that he must perform to ensure he will continue to be a part of the team.

Peraza performed Saturday, when he smacked his second home run of the season — a two-run shot that briefly gave the Yankees the lead in the sixth inning — in what became an elements-affected 11-7 loss to the A’s at Sutter Health Park.

In what had been a tie game, Peraza teed off on a sweeper from righty Justin Sterner, pulling it down the left field line and clearing the wall.

With DJ LeMahieu due back as soon as Monday in Seattle, Peraza’s spot on the roster has seemed in question.

If this home run meant a bit more to him, it showed: He looked toward the dugout, slammed his bat to the dirt and pumped his fist on the way to first base.

“Definitely a special moment there,” Peraza said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “Like I said, I’m really enjoying being part of this team and finding a way just to stay ready. The opportunities, you want to be ready for when they come.”

There have not been a ton of opportunities for Peraza, who also has not run with the ones he has been given.

His 1-for-3 day bumped his average to .205 and OPS to .657, typically playing third base against lefties while Oswaldo Cabrera has gotten the reps against righties.

“He obviously hasn’t played a ton, but I feel like his at-bats have really improved from the start of the season,” manager Aaron Boone said.

When LeMahieu returns, the Yankees could create roster room by DFA’ing Peraza or Pablo Reyes or optioning Jorbit Vivas.

Perhaps Peraza can build upon an encouraging swing — but doing so is difficult because the Yankees are expected to see a slew of righty starters in the next week.

“Definitely some difficulties finding a way to stay ready,” Peraza acknowledged. “But at the same time, I’m also enjoying the opportunity and being here, finding ways to prepare yourself and stay ready. … Definitely enjoying being here and being part of this team.”

All around the A’s clubhouse are Yankees reminders. In one corner are the lockers, in order, of Luis Severino, Miguel Andujar and Gio Urshela.

A bit farther down sits Mitch Spence, a Rule 5 pick taken from the Yankees in December 2023. Injured former top Yankees prospects Luis Medina and Ken Waldichuk own lockers, and across the room is JP Sears, who came up through the Yankees system and debuted in pinstripes in 2022.

Sears, part of the Frankie Montas trade at the 2022 trade deadline, might be a regret of Brian Cashman’s, having established himself in the A’s rotation and allowing one run over five innings Saturday.

Sears has fond memories of his time with the Yankees — including a snapshot of Aaron Judge’s behind-the-scenes leadership.

The lefty pitched well enough in spring training 2022 to crack the Opening Day roster for what would be his major league debut. Two days after he learned he would break camp with the team, he got a text from Judge.

“Hey, if you’re not busy, I got a reservation for you and your family at Don Angie’s,” Judge told Sears.

He wasn’t busy. After flying from Tampa to New York ahead of the start of the regular season, Sears and his parents went to dinner at the West Village spot at which reservations are hard to come by — unless you know the captain of the Yankees.

Sears and his family simply showed up and did not have to plan any of the details. At the end of the meal, Judge arrived, introduced himself to Sears’ parents and paid for the dinner.

“It seems like he’s always been the person he says he’s going to be,” Sears said.

The Yankees transferred the rehab assignment of righty Scott Effross from the FCL Yankees to Double-A Somerset.

The Yankees have not named a starting pitcher for Sunday’s series finale, needing a fifth starter after Carlos Carrasco was DFA’d and wanting Clarke Schmidt to receive an extra day of rest before pitching Monday.

Boone said Ryan Yarbrough likely would “figure in some way, shape or form,” meaning the bullpen length option could start or could log innings as a bulk reliever.

The odd man out of the starting lineup Saturday: Ben Rice, who sat against the lefty Sears.

Judge moved to DH, Trent Grisham started in center field, Cody Bellinger played right and Jasson Domínguez remained in the lineup against a southpaw after his three-homer game Friday.

Rice pinch hit in the eighth and struck out against Mason Miller.

“I’ve kind of looked at it as a way to keep these guys fresh, too,” Boone said. “But they’re all playing pretty much all the time. So far I feel like it’s worked well.”