GLENDALE, Ariz. — In a crowded competition for the White Sox starting outfield, Everson Pereira has caught the eye of his manager.
Pereira, 24, has hit for solid power in seven minor league seasons with the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays systems, but he has struggled to carry over that success during his limited time at the major league level.
In 158 at bats in the majors, the right-hander has homered twice and has slashed a .146 average, .227 on base percentage and .215 slugging.
“I’ve been working on that for the last two, three years, just trying to translate that [success] to the majors,” Pereira said Wednesday at Camelback Ranch. “But I definitely feel that this time, this year is going to be better. I feel more accomplished, I know better because of the experiences I’ve had before and that’s something I’m going to be able to translate to this year.”
Pereira has emerged as a strong candidate for regular playing time in a Sox outfield that has seen the departure of starting centerfielder Luis Robert Jr. and likely limited time in the field for Andrew Benintendi, who lost some weight in the offseason to ease an Achilles tendon that landed him on the injured list at the end of last season.
“Seeing him run around in the outfield a little bit, certainly like how he goes about it from his pre-pitch setup and first step stuff,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “He’s a guy who is really thoughtful about the way he moves out there. Just at the plate, a really sound approach. Not a lot going on with his moves, really simple and he’s getting the barrel to the ball a lot.”
Two spots in the outfield are likely claimed with Pereira’s fellow Venezuelan countryman, Luisangel Acuña assuming center field duties and free-agent signee Austin Hays taking the corners.
That leaves Pereira, Brooks Baldwin, Derek Hill and Jarred Kelenic fighting for the fourth outfielder.
World Baseball Classic guys starting Friday, getting more playing time early
Venable said Wednesday that new corner infielder Munetaka Murakami, Kyle Teel, Sam Antonacci and Curtis Mead will all be in the Sox’ starting lineup Friday in the Cactus League opener against the Cubs.
That’s because they’re all leaving Camelback Ranch later this month to compete in the World Baseball Classic.
Expect to see those guys, along with closer Seranthony Dominguez, who isn’t scheduled to pitch Friday, get more playing time before they depart camp.
Teel and Antonacci are playing for Team Italy, while Murakami is playing with Team Japan, Mead for Team Australia and Dominguez for Team Dominican Republic.
Roch watch
The projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, Roch Cholowsky, has so far lived up to that hype with a hot start to his season at UCLA.
The shortstop homered twice in the Bruins’ win Tuesday, finishing 3-for-4, also with a double, walk and three RBIs and four runs scored.
In four games this season, Cholowsky is 7-for-16 at the plate with three home runs, three doubles, three walks, five RBIs and nine runs scored.