Everson Pereira

A hard-hit data darling, Pereira had a massive breakout across three levels last season, and while his hit tool still bears monitoring, the quality of contact strongly supports his production. A seven-figure international signee from the 2017 J-2 class, Pereira hit .303/.398/.681 with a 47.5 Hard%, which is elite for any minor leaguer, but especially for a 20-year-old making his full-season debut. He hit 20 home runs in 49 games between the Florida Complex League, Low-A and High-A, and his 14 home runs and 29.9 K% in 27 games at High-A is particularly noteworthy, as that was the first time he was at an age-appropriate level. While he was utilizing a pull-heavy approach, his groundball rate was below 38% at each stop, so he could make that approach work. He had nine steals on 12 attempts, but figures to be more of a three-true outcome masher than a four- or five-category contributor. Pereira turns 21 in April and was added to the 40-man roster this offseason. He will get a significant test when he gets assigned to Double-A this season.

Two of the top hitters from the 2017 J-2 signing class were sent directly to the Appalachian League, skipping the Dominican Summer League and Gulf Coast League altogether. One was the Rays' Wander Franco, who is now a top-five prospect in baseball. The other was Pereira, who performed how we should expect a 17-year-old to perform in his first pro assignment to a league where he was over three years younger than the average player. He struck out too much (32.8 K%) and did not do much damage when he did connect (.126 ISO, .389 SLG). It is important to remember why he was given this assignment. The Yankees believed Pereira would not be properly challenged in the DSL or GCL. He was only 12 percent worse than the average Appy League hitter, which is nothing to be ashamed of, given his age. Pereira still has plus speed and a promising future in center field. If his hit tool and plus raw power develop like the Yankees expect, he could be the breakout prospect of 2019.