SAN FRANCISCO – The Braves switched elite prospect Jose Peraza from shortstop to second base in 2014 because they already have the game’s best defensive shortstop, Andrelton Simmons, signed through 2020. Now, Peraza could be on the move again, this time to the outfield.
The Braves have begun playing are Peraza in center field because they have a second baseman, Jace Peterson, who has played well in his first full season in the majors and is better defensively at second than Peraza, manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
The Braves figure they should do whatever they can, within reason, to help pave a path to the majors for Peraza, who was batting .300 with a .341 OBP, eight extra-base hits (two triples, two homers) and 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts over 43 games at Triple-A Gwinnett before Saturday.
Peraza, who first started working some in center field late in spring training, played the position in a game for the first time Wednesday, when he started in center and moved back to second base late. He played second base Thursday, then a full game in center field Friday, going 2-for-5 with a double while batting second behind Eury Perez.
The speedy Perez can play all three outfield spots and moved to left with Peraza in center.
“I talked to (Gwinnett manager Brian Snitker) today about it,” Gonzalez said of the Peraza situation Saturday. “He goes, ‘I’m not going to say you could run him out there tomorrow (in center) in a big league game, but he’s got the ability to do it.’
“I don’t think it’s something that we’re going to see him next week or anything like that. I think it’s just, let him play center and maybe a couple of months down the road, or maybe it’s next year, there’s a possibility there. It makes sense.”
Gonzalez said he discussed Peraza during the last homestand with president of baseball operations John Hart and assistant general manager John Coppolella, and also with some Braves coaches.
“We sat down and talked about it, because we like Peterson,” Gonzalez said. “And why create a logjam there when we can have Peraza play the outfield and use his talents, his abilities.”
Peterson, who turned 25 last month – four years older than Peraza – hit .253 with a .325 OBP and five stolen bases in 45 games through Friday. After hitting .171 with one extra-base hit in his first 15 games, the former Padres prospect was batting .284 (31-for-109) with four extra-base hits (one homer), 16 RBIs and a .358 OBP in his past 30 games.
The more versatility that a young player like Peraza has, the better his chances of getting to the major leagues sooner than later. Although the Braves have also said many times they want to make sure they don’t rush Peraza to the big leagues before they’re confident he won’t be overwhelmed and his development adversely affected in any way.
Although Peterson has plenty of experience at third base before this season, he doesn’t profile as a third baseman and the Braves don’t sound as if they would be inclined to move him from second.
Peraza also doesn’t profile as a third baseman, but center field could be a good fit. He’s a .305 career hitter with a .350 OBP in parts of five minor league seasons, with 28 triples, seven homers and 191 stolen bases in 386 games. He had consecutive seasons with 64 and 60 stolen bases and puts a lot of pressure on opposing pitchers.
He just turned 21 last month, making him one of the youngest players in the International League.
The Braves don’t have a proven left fielder under contract next year, and center fielder Cameron Maybin is signed for $8 million next season with a club option in 2017 and a $1 million buyout. Maybin has been a pleasant surprise, and the Braves could pencil him in for next season, rather than trade him, if he remains productive in the coming months.
The Braves could play him in left field if they wanted to have Peraza play center. They also have highly regarded center-field prospect Mallex Smith, who just turned 22 and still a bit raw, but has game-changing speed. He led minor league baseball with 88 steals last season and is batting .338 with a .395 OBP, two homers and 16 stolen bases in 40 games at Double-A Mississippi, his first season above A-ball.
