The Marlins announced they’ve selected catcher Jhonny Pereda onto the major league roster. He fills in for Christian Bethancourt, who is headed to the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 14, as he battles a viral illness. Miami already has an opening on the 40-man roster after designating Matt Andriese for assignment over the weekend.
It’s an early birthday gift for Pereda, who turns 28 on Thursday. He reaches the big leagues for the first time after more than a decade in the minor leagues. The Venezuela native initially signed with the Cubs during the 2012-13 international amateur period. He got to Double-A in the Chicago system six years later before being traded to the Red Sox. Pereda didn’t reach the majors in Boston and became a minor league free agent after the 2021 season.
The right-handed hitter has bounced around via minor league free agency over the past few years. He spent 2022 in Triple-A with the Giants and joined the Reds last season. Pereda turned in an excellent .325/.405/.468 batting line in 68 games with Cincinnati’s Triple-A team but never got an MLB call. He inked another minor league pact — this time with the Fish — in January.
Miami assigned Pereda to Triple-A Jacksonville. He has played in eight games, collecting nine hits and five walks over his first 32 plate appearances. That brings his career slash at the top minor league level to a strong .294/.383/.404 in parts of four seasons. That was enough to make him the first one up in the event of an injury or illness to either of the catchers on Miami’s active roster.
Bethancourt and Nick Fortes had been the only backstops on the 40-man roster. With Bethancourt needing some time off, the Fish had to go to a non-roster player to back Fortes up. Pereda will fill that role for at least a week, likely getting a chance to make his MLB debut in the process. Neither Fortes nor Bethancourt has contributed much for the Marlins as they’ve limped to a 3-13 start. Miami has gotten by far the worst production in the league out of their catchers thus far: an .063/.100/.083 line over 51 trips to the plate.
Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase first reported the Marlins were selecting Pereda and placing Bethancourt on the IL.
No John Sterling post?
Thank god he’s leaving. Him and Waldman make baseball worse.
“There is a Soto Photo – a home run in the left field seats. He’s Juanderful, marvelous.” I was hoping a bus flew directly into his face while he was in the booth.
Yawn!
I don’t think it matters who the catcher is. The Marlins will still hand leads to the bullpen that they will blow. It doesn’t matter who is behind the plate.
I imagine that when the catchers talk to our relievers, our relievers are saying that they’ll throw certain pitches, but they need the catchers to catch it. In response, I’m pretty confident that our catchers are probably saying the great quote once said by a legendary fictional catching stud in saying, “I will if it ever gets to me.” Yes, this great quote for you movie historians was the legendary Jack Parkman.
Here because I read this as Jhonny Peralta
He had a great year in the Reds AAA. Surprised he’s never got an opportunity in the show.
He deserves a shot. Maybe he can at least provide some offense. He doesn’t have to be the next Ivan Rodríguez (or Paul LoDuca, for that matter) to give our lineup a much-needed boost. An RBI single here, a walk there, a sac. fly – anything would help at this point.
Not if the bullpen keeps blowing leads.
Our bullpen is on pace to blow over 50 games this year.
@BannedMarlinsFanBase
On Sunday, when Tanner Scott served up that 3-run shot to our old friend Ozuna to blow up the game, I’m watching at home. And I’m like, “No! No! No! Not Again! It can’t be! Say it ain’t so!” I almost fired a baseball right through the flat screen TV. I had to reach down deep for restraint like it was the last dime left in my pocket.
Afterwards, I just had to laugh. It’s going to be a long season – may as well enjoy it. When was it ever easy being a Marlins fan? This just comes with the territory. Should be used to it by now.
You know, after that happened, I started thinking of a specific scene in the movie Major League II. It’s that scene when Jack Parkman (still with Cleveland at the time) comes to the mound to talk with Rick Vaughn. Parkman tells Vaughn that the batters are hitting the slow stuff, so basically he should throw the gas. Vaughn says, “Look, I’ll throw it, you just make sure you catch it.” Parkman responds, “I will if it ever gets to me.”
I wonder how many times Fortes and Bethancourt are thinking along those lines when they have to work with our bullpen.
Of course, I mention it above as well. It feels like this season, with all of our relievers.
Can they please put Puk back in the bullpen!
Marlins 9-8 if the bullpen doesn’t blow leads. The Marlins are actually 3-14 because the bullpen has blown 6 games in which they were handed leads.
Hmmm…who can we thank for this?
Oh, let’s give the prize to the person that truly deserves credit for it.
Thank you Kim Ng for building such an awesome bullpen! I still remember when you came aboard and stated that bullpen was your priority. Great stuff in December 2020: mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/marlins-trade-rumors-bu…