Jose Peraza – Dodger Thoughts

Young Dodgers in the 21st century

On March 19, 2016

Clayton Kershaw makes his MLB debut on May 25, 2008.

Dodgers at White Sox, 1:05 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Howie Kendrick, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Alex Guerrero, DH
A.J. Ellis, C
Austin Barnes, 2B
Trayce Thompson, CF
Elian Herrera, LF
Rico Noel, RF
(Clayton Kershaw, P)

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw is somehow 28 years old today, which is only slightly more believable than my youngest son turning 8 years old Sunday. My guess is that Kershaw isn’t renting a game truck this morning, though what do I know?

Anyway, just for fun, here are the youngest Dodgers to make their MLB debuts in the 2000s, with their ages at the time.

Edwin Jackson (September 9, 2003): 20 years, 0 days
Clayton Kershaw (May 25, 2008): 20 years, 67 days
*Adrian Beltre (April 3, 2000): 20 years, 362 days
Jonathan Broxton (July 29, 2005): 21 years, 43 days
Jose Peraza (August 10, 2015): 21 years, 102 days
Corey Seager (September 3, 2015): 21 years, 129 days
Paco Rodriguez (September 9, 2012): 21 years, 146 days
**Dioner Navarro (July 29, 2005): 21 years, 170 days
Nathan Eovaldi (August 6, 2011): 21 years, 174 days
Joel Guzman (June 1, 2006): 21 years, 189 days

*First game of the 2000s — actually debuted June 24, 1998, at 19 years, 78 days
**Made MLB debut September 7, 2004 with Yankees, at 20 years, 211 days

Julio Urias, who was optioned to the minor leagues Thursday, turns 20 on August 12 this year. If he gets his big-league callup before then, he will move ahead of Jackson.

Dodgers acquire trio from White Sox in three-way deal

By Jon Weisman

On December 16, 2015

In Transactions

From the Dodgers’ public relations department:

The Dodgers today announced the completion of a three-team trade with the Reds and White Sox, with the Dodgers receiving right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas, outfielder Trayce Thompson and second baseman Micah Johnson; the Reds receiving Jose Peraza, outfielder Scott Schebler and minor league infielder Brandon Dixon; and the White Sox receiving third baseman Todd Frazier.

New and familiar faces on Baseball America’s top 10 Dodger prospects for ’16

By Jon Weisman

On November 30, 2015

In Minor leagues

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Baseball America’s annual ranking of Dodger prospects actually comes early this year — the 2015 rankings were published 10 months ago — and comes with five names that weren’t on the preseason 2015 list.

Joc Pederson graduated from prospect status, but Corey Seager remains a rookie despite his impressive September debut, allowing the Dodger infielder a second consecutive year in the No. 1 slot. Julio Urias moves up a spot accordingly to No. 2, while right-hadner Jose De Leon leapfrogs into the No. 3 spot.

The top newcomer on this year’s list is infielder Jose Peraza, acquired from Atlanta in the big July 30 deal. “Peraza lacks a high ceiling,” Baseball America’s Ben Badler writes, “but his bat-to-ball skills and wheels should make him a steady player in the middle of the diamond.” In the list of best tools in the Dodger minor leagues, Peraza is called the organization’s top athlete.

Making the biggest leap internally is first baseman-outfielder Cody Bellinger, who skipped Great Lakes after hitting three homers with Rookie League Ogden in 2014 and hit 30 for High-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2015. The 20-year-old is also labeled the best power hitter in the system.

“Bellinger used to gear his swing for line drives, but he made a mechanical adjustment in 2015 to put his body in a better position to create torque,” Badler wrote in his analysis. “Toward the end of 2015, he began to study heat maps to understand his own strengths and weaknesses, and he condensed his trigger slightly.”

Dodgers offseason update from Andrew Friedman

By Jon Weisman

On November 9, 2015

In Front office

Tommy Lasorda, one of the people not interviewing for the Dodger managerial opening, with Andrew Friedman. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Tommy Lasorda, who is not interviewing for the Dodger managerial opening, speaks with Andrew Friedman in August. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

OK, so the Dodgers have no new manager or head trainer yet, no new free-agent signings or trades to announce, nothing locked down for the coaching staff.

But with the MLB General Managers meetings underway today through Thursday, Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman spoke to reporters to provide an offseason update. Here’s a sample of what was said …

NL ERA race hotter than Southern California

By Jon Weisman

On September 11, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Jose Peraza, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Chris Heisey, CF
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

A quick note before we get to today’s lengthy health recap: Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta lowered his ERA to 1.99 this afternoon. If he and Zack Greinke stay below 2.00, they’ll be the first duo to do so in the same year since Dwight Gooden (1.53) and John Tudor (1.93) in 1985.

If Clayton Kershaw (2.15) joins them, we would have the first sub-2.00 trio since Luis Tiant (1.91), Gaylord Perry (1.92) and Gary Nolan (1.99) in 1972.

Kershaw, who is next scheduled to start Monday against the Rockies, most likely has four starts left in the 2015 regular season. If he pitched a total of 24 1/3 to 28 1/3 innings, he would need to allow no more than two earned runs (0.64 ERA) to get his ERA below 2.00. If he pitched 28 2/3 to 33 innings, he could allow three runs, and if he pitched at least 33 1/3, he could allow four runs.

And now, to the Web (Gem) MD report, via manager Don Mattingly to reporters:

Jose Peraza, who is playing tonight (batting second) for the first time since tweaking a hamstring September 1, is at 100 percent.
With Jimmy Rollins still recovering from a finger injury, Corey Seager is making his seventh start since his callup nine days ago. As Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. noted, Peraza and Seager are the youngest starting double-play combo for the Dodgers since 1947.
Howie Kendrick had live batting practice and ran the bases. He’s “not there yet but getting closer,” reports Bill Plunkett of the Register.
Yasiel Puig is still feeling hamstring tightness and has not been able to resume baseball work.
Kiké Hernandez is feeling good, but still has to get over the hump.
Yasmani Grandal took live BP today and was hitting home runs, according to Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles.
Mat Latos’ stiff neck is improved, but his usage as a starter will depend on matchups.

Rollins, Grandal both in question

By Jon Weisman

On September 7, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Dodgers at Angels, 6:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
(Zack Greinke, P)

By Jon Weisman

Don Mattingly told reporters today that Yasmani Grandal’s shoulder is bothering him again, and that Jimmy Rollins is having X-rays on a finger on this throwing hand that was hurt in a slide during Sunday’s 5-1 victory over San Diego.

Grandal was originally in tonight’s starting lineup against the Angels before being scratched. He will be examined anew, and A.J. Ellis will start.

Results from Rollins’ X-rays are hoped for by tonight. Corey Seager, 5 for 15 with two doubles and a stolen base as a Dodger, will make his fourth Dodger start.

One piece of good injury news: Jose Peraza told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com that his hamstring was healed and he was able to play.

Mattingly also said that Mat Latos will start the third game of the series against the Angels, after Greinke tonight and Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday. Mike Bolsinger might get another start this weekend at Arizona.

The Dodgers enter tonight’s game with a season-high lead of eight games in the National League West, after San Francisco’s 6-1 loss at Arizona this afternoon.

Homer-happy Dodgers on a basestealing roll

By Jon Weisman

On September 5, 2015

In Baserunning

By Jon Weisman

While leading the National League in home runs, it’s also getting back to the point where the Dodgers can slide with pride.

Though still not exactly a team of Rickey Hendersons, the Dodgers have turned things around as basestealers. The team that began the season 14 for 35 on stolen-base attempts through July 1 has gone 30 for 37 since — including 13 for 13 in its past seven games.

Here’s the breakdown of steals before and after July 1:

Carl Crawford has gone from a non-factor to the biggest factor. Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick have been more successful. So even have Scott Van Slyke and Justin Tuner. Jose Peraza and, as of Friday, Scott Schebler have chipped in.

Since the All-Star Break, the Dodgers are seventh in the NL with 25 steals (in 31 attempts) and third in stolen-base percentage with an 80.6 percent success rate.

Seager is Dodgers’ youngest No. 5 hitter since Beltre

By Jon Weisman

On September 4, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Dodgers at Padres, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, 3B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Schebler, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

Scott Schebler and Corey Seager are each making their second career starts tonight for the Dodgers, who continue to weather the longer absences of Yasiel Puig and Kiké Hernandez and the shorter ones of Andre Ethier and Jose Peraza.

Ethier, who fouled a ball off his knee Wednesday, and Peraza, who has been sidelined by hamstring tightness since Tuesday, are expected back to game action soon. Second baseman Howie Kendrick is also close to a return. But Puig and Hernandez look like they’ll be out until close to the end of the regular season.

The result is an interesting lineup that features Chase Utley (.752 OPS as a Dodger, six homers in 2015) batting cleanup and Seager, who wears No. 5, hitting fifth.

At 21 years and 130 days, Seager is the youngest Dodger to start a game batting fifth since Adrian Beltre in 2000. Before Beltre, the last Dodger this young to bat fifth in the starting lineup was Derrell Griffith in 1964.

New folk hero Jose Peraza lifts Greinke, Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On September 1, 2015

In Postgame

[mlbvideo id=”440330283″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Jose Peraza isn’t purely a September callup. The 21-year-old second baseman-center fielder, the youngest Dodger position player since Adrian Beltre, had 13 plate appearances in four games for Los Angeles before today’s turn of the calendar.

But we’ll call him a late addition to the Dodgers, and what an addition so far.

The young sparkplug ignited and then all but sealed the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over Giants ace Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants, moving Los Angeles to a 5 1/2 game lead in the National League West.

“He seemed to play fearless,” Don Mattingly said.

In the third inning, Peraza singled and soon after raced home from second base for the Dodgers’ first run off Bumgarner. And in the eighth inning, shortly after Joc Pederson’s homer off Bumgarner doubled the Dodger lead, Peraza made a spectacular play, backhanding a Brandon Belt grounder with the tying run on second base and glove-flipping to Jimmy Rollins to start an inning-ending double play.

“I was looking to get it over to Jimmy,” said Peraza, who said he practices glove-flips periodically. “Thank God it worked out.”

In doing so, Peraza saved a vintage Zack Greinke outing from the wastebasket. Greinke allowed no runs on two hits over his first seven innings, then gave up three singles for a run in the eighth, setting up the game’s most dramatic moment.

Luis Avilan, relieving Greinke, allowed a long foul ball on his first pitch and needed seven in all to get Belt, but thanks to the double play, retired his 11th batter in a row over the past six games.

Peraza dropped a second-inning pop-up for an error — so much for perfection. But that was soon a distant memory.

“Maybe I do,” said Peraza, about whether he feels the pressure of being thrust into a Giants-Dodgers pennant race in his fifth Major League game, “but it basically comes down to me doing my job, and thank God things turned out well.”

Update: Hernandez to DL, Barnes activated, Bolsinger, Thomas, Peralta to join roster Tuesday

By Jon Weisman

On August 31, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Austin Barnes (Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

Austin Barnes, Mike Bolsinger, Ian Thomas and Joel Peralta are set to be the first additions the Dodgers make Tuesday when the active roster limit expands to 40 players, Don Mattingly confirmed to reporters today.

Barnes today was named to the all-Pacific Coast League team at catcher, honoring a season in which he has a .389 on-base percentage and .479 slugging percentage for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Barnes has nine homers, 12 steals (in 14 attempts), 35 walks and 36 strikeouts. As a Dodger this year, he is 4 for 15 with two walks.

Bolsinger is coming off seven innings of shutout ball with 11 strikeouts Saturday against El Paso. In 46 2/3 innings with Oklahoma City this season, he has a 2.31 ERA with 61 strikeouts, complimenting his 2.83 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 89 innings for the Dodgers.

Thomas finishes his minor-league season with a 4.19 ERA for three different teams, with 58 strikeouts in 58 innings. In the Majors this year, his ERA is 4.11 with Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Peralta, who went on the disabled list with a right neck strain August 11 for the second time this year, made three rehab appearances in the past week for Double-A Tulsa, retiring all nine batters he faced. He has a 5.40 ERA in 25 innings this season for the Dodgers.

Julio Urias, Corey Seager and Jharel Cotton, who are all in Triple-A tonight, will not join the Dodgers on Tuesday, and no statement has been made about if/when they might be added to the 40-man roster.

Update: Kiké Hernandez has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring, joining Howie Kendrick and Yasiel Puig. Barnes has been activated to take his roster spot.

Yasiel Puig placed on disabled list, Peraza recalled

By Jon Weisman

On August 28, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Cubs at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXV: Kershawgmalion
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Even with rosters expanding in four days, obviating the need to use the disabled list, the Dodgers are convinced enough that Yasiel Puig’s latest hamstring injury will sideline him for long enough to put him on the 15-day disabled list.

Rather than play a man down between now and Tuesday, the Dodgers have called up infielder-outfielder Jose Peraza, who has a .316 on-base percentage and .378 slugging percentage in Triple-A this year, in addition to having a walk and a triple in seven plate appearances for the Dodgers this month.

The timing for Puig’s injury is a drag, considering that he has a .975 OPS over his past 12 games and also keeps opposing baserunners at bay with his arm.

Dodger minor league report No. 19: Peeking at September

By Jon Weisman

On August 26, 2015

In Minor leagues

[milbvideo id=”412552883″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

We got a jump on this week’s minor league report Tuesday by highlighting the performances of Julio Urias, Jharel Cotton and Corey Seager. And with a morning Dodger game at Cincinnati on Thursday — the last Dodger game east of the Rockies in the 2015 regular season — we’re going to get to the farm report itself a day early.

Already, conversation is hot and heavy about whom the Dodgers might call up when rosters expand September 1. The Dodgers have said they won’t call up players willy-nilly without a specific purpose, but that’s not to say this team doesn’t have several specific purposes to address.

Here are the candidates from the 40-man roster:

Dodgers clear Justin Turner for landing

By Jon Weisman

On August 13, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Wave him home, @redturn2. pic.twitter.com/okHYDdQaSH

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2015

Reds at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Mat Latos, P

By Jon Weisman

Fresh from moonlighting with Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson at Southwest Airlines this morning, Justin Turner has been activated from the disabled list.

Turner, who has been sidelined since July 26, is available off the bench today and expected to start Friday, according to Don Mattingly.

Jose Peraza, who tripled and walked in seven plate appearances, has been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Technically, Turner has reached base in 10 consecutive games (July 12-26), going 17 for 37 with a .487 on-base percentage and .757 slugging percentage in that time.

Below, here are more tweets from today’s Dodger-Southwest promotion.

At 21, Jose Peraza called up for MLB debut — youngest Dodger since Kershaw

By Jon Weisman

On August 10, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Jose Peraza, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Alex Guerrero, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

“Life moves pretty fast,” warned Ferris Bueller, no doubt with Jose Peraza in mind.

With Howie Kendrick and his strained left hamstring officially headed to the disabled list, Peraza — the 21-year-old infielder acquired from Atlanta in the Dodgers’ July 30 three-team deal — has been called up to make his Major League debut for Los Angeles.

Born on April 30, 1994 — the day that the Dodgers rallied from a 10-5, eighth-inning deficit to beat the Mets — Peraza is poised to become the youngest Dodger since Clayton Kershaw made his debut on May 25, 2008 at 20 years and 67 days. And, he’ll be the Dodgers’ youngest position player since Adrian Beltre, who was 19 when he was called up in 1998.

Peraza has a .318 on-base percentage and .379 slugging percentage in Triple-A this season, numbers that have soared to .415 and .590 since moving to Oklahoma City. He has also stolen 27 bases in 34 attempts this year.

Kendrick has a .341 OBP and .418 slugging percentage in his first season with the Dodgers and is fifth among National League second basemen in wins above replacement. Since July 20, Kendrick was hitting .396/.420/.583.

Also tonight, Scott Van Slyke is making his second career start batting in the No. 3 spot, and first since May 15, 2012. Kiké Hernandez is making his third career start batting fifth.

Also, Carlos Frias is back on the disabled list with lower back tightness. Frias was optioned to the minors earlier this month, but technically, that action has been voided.

Update: Van Slyke and Puig have shifted spots in the lineup.

Dodger minor league report No. 16: Mike Bolsinger, Carlos Frias, Jose Peraza and more

By Jon Weisman

On August 6, 2015

In Minor leagues

[milbvideo id=”325300083″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Mike Bolsinger and Carlos Frias, the two Dodger starting pitchers displaced by Mat Latos and Alex Wood, each had early exits from their first starts back with Triple-A Oklahoma City this week.

Bolsinger was hit in the forearm Tuesday by a batted ball and departed after three-plus innings, after allowing three runs on six hits. Don Mattingly relayed to reporters Wednesday that Bolsinger isn’t expected to miss his next scheduled start.

Frias, who was officially optioned to Triple-A on Sunday, started Wednesday for Oklahoma City, pitched one shutout inning and then took his leave. Mattingly told reporters after the Dodgers’ victory in Philadelphia last night that Frias “felt something” and was removed as a precaution, then added today that Frias was undergoing further tests.

Joe Wieland ended up pitching five innings in relief, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out five.

Two other recent Dodger starting pitchers have resumed work for Oklahoma City. Zach Lee allowed one earned run in seven innings (striking out three) August 2, and Brandon Beachy — who was accepted an assignment to Triple-A after clearing waivers — allowed five earned runs in six innings August 3.

Now, on with our tour of the Dodger minor leagues …

Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Tag: Jose Peraza (Page 1 of 2)

Young Dodgers in the 21st century

Dodgers acquire trio from White Sox in three-way deal

New and familiar faces on Baseball America’s top 10 Dodger prospects for ’16

Dodgers offseason update from Andrew Friedman

NL ERA race hotter than Southern California

Rollins, Grandal both in question

Homer-happy Dodgers on a basestealing roll

Seager is Dodgers’ youngest No. 5 hitter since Beltre

New folk hero Jose Peraza lifts Greinke, Dodgers

Update: Hernandez to DL, Barnes activated, Bolsinger, Thomas, Peralta to join roster Tuesday

Yasiel Puig placed on disabled list, Peraza recalled

Dodger minor league report No. 19: Peeking at September

Dodgers clear Justin Turner for landing

At 21, Jose Peraza called up for MLB debut — youngest Dodger since Kershaw

Dodger minor league report No. 16: Mike Bolsinger, Carlos Frias, Jose Peraza and more

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