Jhonny Pereda

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Jhonny Pereda

|image = Jhonny Pereda homered (53708655506) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Pereda with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in 2024

|team = Athletics

|number = 64

|position = Catcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|4|18}}

|birth_place = San Juan, Venezuela

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 17

|debutyear = 2024

|debutteam = Miami Marlins

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 8, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .203

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 0

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 7

|teams =

Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2024}})
Athletics ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Jhonny Fernando Pereda (born April 18, 1996) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Miami Marlins. He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Career

=Chicago Cubs=

On April 1, 2013, Pereda signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent. He spent his first two professional seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Cubs, hitting .221 across 122 games.{{Cite web|title=Jhonny Pereda Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/9727-jhonny-pereda/|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}} Pereda spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the rookie–level Arizona League Cubs, batting .258 with two home runs and 24 RBI across 52 total games.{{Cite web|title=Jhonny Pereda - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jhonny-pereda/sa735866/stats?position=C|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} In 2017, he played in 92 games for the Single–A South Bend Cubs, batting .249/.335/.290 with no home runs and 29 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Jhonny Pereda - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/197883/|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}}

Pereda spent the 2018 season with the High–A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, playing in 122 games and hitting .272/.348/.363 with career–highs in home runs (8) and RBI (57). Following the season, he was named the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues.{{Cite web|title=Jhonny Pereda named Top Defensive Catcher in minors|url=https://www.cubshq.com/cubs-baseball/story/jhonny-pereda-named-top-defensive-catcher-in-minors-15987|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=cubshq.com|date=October 15, 2019 |language=en}} In 2019, Pereda played for the Double–A Tennessee Smokies, appearing in 98 contests and slashing .241/.336/.305 with two home runs and 39 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox's Jhonny Pereda: Joins 60-man pool|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/red-soxs-jhonny-pereda-joins-60-man-pool/|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=July 17, 2020 |language=en}}

=Boston Red Sox=

On March 23, 2020, Pereda was traded to the Boston Red Sox as the player to be named later from a previous trade that sent Travis Lakins Sr. to Chicago.{{Cite news|title=Red Sox acquire catcher Jhonny Pereda from Cubs|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2020/03/24/red-sox-acquire-catcher-jhonny-pereda-from-cubs/?amp=1|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=boston.com| date=March 24, 2020 |language=en}} He was released by the organization on July 15, but re–signed with the team the following day on a new minor league deal.{{Cite web|title=Jhonny Pereda Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/jhonny-pereda-640902|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} Pereda did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

He returned to action in 2021 with the Double–A Portland Sea Dogs and Triple–A Worcester Red Sox. In 64 games between the two affiliates, Pereda accumulated a .246/.343/.325 batting line with no home runs and 20 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2021.{{cite web|title=2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-22-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 9, 2021 |language=en}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On December 15, 2021, Pereda signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.{{Cite web|title=Giants add 2 former Boston minor leaguers on MiLB deals|url=https://www.milb.com/en/news/giants-add-2-former-boston-minor-leaguers-on-milb-deals|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} He was later invited to major league spring training.{{Cite web|title=Giants' Jhonny Pereda: Gets camp invite from Giants|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-jhonny-pereda-gets-camp-invite-from-giants/|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=March 14, 2022 |language=en}} Pereda spent the year with the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, playing in 65 games and hitting .272/.371/.379 with four home runs and 25 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}

=Cincinnati Reds=

On December 6, 2022, Pereda signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds that included an invitation to spring training.{{Cite web|title=Catcher Jhonny Pereda signs with the Reds for 2023|url=https://www.redlegnation.com/2022/12/06/catcher-jhonny-pereda-signs-with-cincinnati-reds-for-2023/|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=redlegnation.com|date=December 7, 2022 |language=en}} He spent the entirety of the 2023 season with the Triple–A Louisville Bats, playing in 68 contests and slashing .325/.405/.468 with six home runs and 36 RBI. Pereda elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2023 |language=en}}

=Miami Marlins=

On January 17, 2024, Pereda signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.{{Cite web|title=Marlins Sign Matt Andriese To Minor League Contract|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/marlins-sign-matt-andriese-to-minor-league-contract.html|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=February 5, 2024 |language=en}} He missed all of spring training after dealing with visa issues that prevented him from entering the United States.{{Cite web|title=Marlins' Huascar Brazoban: Yet to report due to visa issue|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/marlins-huascar-brazoban-yet-to-report-due-to-visa-issue/|date=April 15, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Pereda was assigned to the Triple–A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to begin the season, where he went 9–for–26 (.346) across 8 games.{{Cite web|title=Marlins' Jhonny Pereda: Added to roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/marlins-jhonny-pereda-added-to-roster/|access-date=April 15, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=April 15, 2024 |language=en}} On April 15, Pereda was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/marlins-to-select-jhonny-pereda.html | title=Marlins Select Jhonny Pereda | date=April 15, 2024 }} Pereda recorded his first major league hit on August 8 against all-star pitcher Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds. Elly De La Cruz of the Reds accidentally threw the used ball to a ball boy, who threw it into the stands, before it was ultimately retrieved by the Marlins bench for posterity. Pereda recorded his first major league RBI in the same game, also against Greene.{{cite news |last1=Di Nicola |first1=Christina |title=After 11 years, Pereda gets 1st hit -- and then gets it back |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jhonny-pereda-collects-first-mlb-hit-in-marlins-loss-to-reds |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=MLB.com |date=August 8, 2024}} In 20 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .231/.250/.231 with no home runs and four RBI. Pereda was designated for assignment by the Marlins on January 28, 2025.{{Cite web|title=Marlins To Claim Connor Gillispie, Designate Jhonny Pereda|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/marlins-to-claim-connor-gillispie-designate-jhonny-pereda.html|access-date=January 28, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=January 28, 2025 |language=en}}

=Athletics=

On January 30, 2025, Pereda was traded to the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations.{{cite news |title=Athletics acquire C Jhonny Pereda from Miami for cash considerations |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-athletics-acquire-c-jhonny-pereda-from-miami-for-cash-considerations |access-date=January 31, 2025 |work=MLB.com |date=January 30, 2025}} On May 15, as a position player pitcher in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pereda struck out Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.{{Cite web |last=Gurvis |first=Jacob |date=May 16, 2025 |title=A's catcher wanted to face Ohtani, got his chance -- and struck him out! |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/athletics-catcher-jhonny-pereda-strikes-out-shohei-ohtani |access-date=May 16, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}