Yankees' Oswald Peraza Out 6-8 Weeks with Shoulder Injury Ahead of 2024 MLB Season

New York Yankees infielder Oswald Peraza's ongoing shoulder problems will cause him to miss the start of the regular season.

Manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Saturday that Peraza will be shut down for six to eight weeks due to a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder.

The Yankees held Peraza out of spring training games for 10 days due to a shoulder issue before he returned to the lineup on Tuesday against the New York Mets. He started at second base and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts before being replaced by Jahmai Jones.

Peraza started again on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays at shortstop. He got two at-bats being subbed out for Jorbit Vivas.

After sitting out on Thursday and Friday, the Yankees finally made the decision to give Peraza an extended break to properly heal his shoulder injury.

This is an especially rough turn of events for Peraza because he is running out of time earn a roster spot with the Yankees. He was regarded as a top-40 prospect in MLB entering the 2023 season.

In his first extended run in the big leagues last year, Peraza hit .191/.267/.272 with 50 strikeouts in 173 at-bats.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted the Yankees tried during the offseason to sign Enrique Hernandez and Amed Rosario to serve as their utility player in 2024.

Even though neither player wound up signing with New York, it can be viewed as a sign the organization had doubts coming into the year about Peraza's ability to handle an increased role.

A six-week timetable would allow Peraza to return in late-April. Eight weeks would keep him out until early-May.

Peraza is only 23 and could still emerge as the player he was expected to be as a prospect. This injury setback might cloud his future in the Bronx because the Yankees already have a crowded infield with Jones and Oswaldo Cabrera likely locked into bench roles with Peraza on the shelf.