TAMPA — For Oswald Peraza, this spring feels a bit different.
He competed for a shortstop job two camps ago and was beaten out by Anthony Volpe, Peraza then sent back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Last year he entered camp as a front-runner to crack the Yankees roster as a utility infielder, but a shoulder strain ended his bid early.
When healthy, he wound up back in Triple-A.
This exhibition season will end differently, in one way or another.
Out of minor league options, Peraza either will be on the major league roster or exposed to waivers, where other teams can claim him.
“It’s a little different [with] no options,” Peraza said. “Working hard every day. I’m waiting for the news.
“My goal is to make the team. I love New York. I want to play for New York.”
Peraza’s goal has gotten more attainable since he arrived, DJ LeMahieu’s injury creating an opening for a backup who can move all around the infield.
There is little doubt about Peraza’s glove and arm — two years ago he was seen as a better defender than Volpe, who went on to win a Gold Glove. Peraza’s bat, though, will have to make a leap if he wants to be more than a utilityman.
The starting third base job to begin the season is between Peraza and Oswaldo Cabrera (plus external options who could shake off other rosters), and Cabrera’s Grapefruit League numbers (for what they are worth) have been marginally better. The righty Peraza and switch-hitting Cabrera, who has been stronger from his left side, also could platoon.
Peraza, a 24-year-old who posted a .735 OPS in 406 plate appearances with SWB last season, spent his offseason and early camp time adjusting a swing that he says will help him hit inside pitches — particularly sinkers that bear in on him — better this year.
“More [directed] to the gaps,” Peraza said about the tweaked swing. “I want to control my zone and hit the sinker, which I’ve had problems with sometimes.”
Every swing change takes time to master, but Peraza said it has been feeling pretty natural.
Early in spring training, his hitting coach noticed how the ball was coming off Peraza’s bat.
“Watching his BP today, you can see true ball flight,” James Rowson said. “The balls he’s hitting, he’s getting true backspin on them, regardless of where they go, what part of the field, whether it’s a homer or a double or single. You’re starting to see the balls have that low flight to lift. They’re not just getting up really early or going down. They really have a low flight that’s allowing it to lift.
“He’s looked good early.”
Peraza has controlled the strike zone well thus far, walking four times and striking out five in 28 plate appearances in which he has collected five singles and a double for a .649 OPS. Neither he nor Cabrera (.726 OPS) has run away with the job.
Peraza has about two weeks to achieve his goal and prove he belongs in pinstripes.
“For him, it’s consistency,” manager Aaron Boone said earlier this spring. “So it’s good to see him healthy, though, and getting regular reps.”