Everson Pereira hasn’t played for the White Sox since June 17, when he left a game at Yankee Stadium after crashing into the center-field wall while making an incredible catch. Though he suffered a concussion and missed more than five weeks, he said he won’t change how he plays.
“I’m going to try to catch the ball no matter what,” Pereira said.
The Sox put that to the test quickly, starting Pereira in center field against the Yankees on Monday after activating him from the injured list. They optioned outfielder Junior Perez to Triple-A Charlotte.
“He’s 100% ready to play, or else he wouldn’t be here,” manager Will Venable said.
Pereira is returning from his third stint on the IL this season after missing time with a sprained left ankle and a strained right pectoral. He hit only .160 on a seven-game rehab assignment at Charlotte, but he capped it off with a home run Sunday.
Venable said the right-handed-hitting Pereira will face left-handed pitchers more to start but eventually could see some righties. Venable said Pereira brings “a ton of power,” though it has yet to manifest itself consistently in the majors. In 71 career games entering Monday, he has five home runs, including three in 21 games with the Sox this season.
Pereira, who suffered the first concussion of his career, said he began feeling fully like himself again last week. The recovery process wasn’t easy.
“I was feeling good like two weeks ago, but I was worried I couldn’t pass the reaction test,” he said through a translator. “If I couldn’t pass, I couldn’t be active. It was different from a regular injury because the treatment is different. There’s all different things like stuff you have to remember, and you have to give quick answers to different questions. It’s very difficult.”
The Sox acquired Pereira in a trade with the Rays in November, and his first season admittedly has been frustrating even beyond the injuries. His on-base percentage was only .299.
“But there’s nothing I can do about it,” he said. “Thank God I’m here right now, and hopefully I can stay healthy for the rest of the season.”
Colson at DH
Shortstop Colson Montgomery filled the DH spot in the Sox’ lineup to get him off his feet because of a bruised right shin he keeps fouling balls off. He sat out of the Sox’ 12-3 victory Sunday against the Astros.
“Thought it made sense,” Venable said. “I think he could’ve played short today but just want to give him a little more recovery. It will be day-to-day. Likely playing shortstop [Tuesday].”
This would be Montgomery’s first full major-league season, and Venable wants to be careful when he can be.
“I think for all of our players, navigating a full season is something we have to be mindful of,” he said. “Whether that means off days or DH days, it’s something we got to work with the player to make sure we can get to the end and do it performing at a high level and healthy.”
Hays building up
Outfielder Austin Hays continues to work his way back from a strained left calf that has him on the 60-day injured list. Hays, whom the Sox signed to a one-year, $6 million contract in February, has played in only 12 games this season. He also was on the IL in April with a strained right hamstring.
In the first seven games of his rehab assignment at Charlotte, Hays is slugging .560 with two homers, including one Sunday.
“Still in a spot where he’s continuing to build volume and make sure that he’s recovering well,” Venable said. “Obviously, the homer’s nice to see, but still building up there. I think he’s been up to seven innings out in the field mixed in with some DH spots. So as he gets more and more innings, making sure that he’s recovering well afterward is a big part of building his volume.”