OPINION |
Through Pedro Pages, his teammate serving as interpreter, Springfield Cardinals pitcher Wilfredo Pereira was asked his memories of being offered a contract at the age of 17 by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pereira, a native of Panama, smiled as Pages relayed the question. The Cardinals were his favorite Major League Baseball team growing up and the chance to sign was a dream come true.
“It has been a great opportunity for me and my family,” Pereira said. “I’ve been very grateful for it. It was a special moment for me.”
Pereira’s road has been lengthy, although he’s only 24. But the dream to pitch in Busch Stadium someday might not be so far-fetched.
Pereira stringing together quality starts in first Double-A season
Continuing a stellar first half to his initial Double-A season, Pereira had another strong start Wednesday night at Hammons Field as Springfield beat the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 6-4. The 6-foot, 197-pound right-hander worked six innings, allowing five hits and three runs to earn the victory.
It was the latest in a string of quality starts for Pereira.
“He’s been probably our most consistent starting pitcher,” Springfield manager Jose Leger said of Pereira, who improved to 4-3 with a 3.14 earned run average. In 57⅓ innings, he’s struck out 50 as opponents are hitting just .219 against him.
It’s been a notable leap in effectiveness from the last two seasons, when Pereira had a combined 9-16 record at High-A Peoria. However, he did demonstrate his durability by pitching in 56 games, 31 of which were starts.
“The biggest thing is the control aspect and being able to execute pitches and also just being a balance of aggressive and under control,” Pereira said of why he’s been successful this season.
“The hitters are smarter up here,” Pereira added. “More veteran guys. You run into those veteran guys and that’s the difference. Smarter hitters.”
The Cardinals signed Pereira in 2016 as an international free agent. He had a 6-8 record with a 5.02 ERA last season in Peoria, but opponents hit only .227 against him and Pereira had 129 strikeouts in 118 innings.
This season, he was one of the best pitchers in the Texas League during May, going 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA as opponents hit only .183.
If he’s able to keep trending toward those types of numbers, Pereira will be on the radar for advancement in the organization. There’s always a place for those with the ability to throw strikes and get outs.
Using ‘the mix' to get batters out
Pereira and Pages agree that the slider is Pereira’s best pitch. That probably is no surprise considering Pereira’s hero as a youngster was fellow Panama native Mariano Rivera, who had one of the most-famous sliders in baseball history while becoming arguably baseball’s greatest reliever, for the New York Yankees.
Pages said the slider might be Pereira’s No. 1 pitch, but the key for Pereira in his emergence has been what he calls “the mix.”
“His being able to throw all his pitches for strikes and always keeping a good mix on hitters and never being repetitive,” Pages said. “It’s about mixing and matching. Being able to execute pitches is the key, in my opinion, so if he’s able to execute pitches at the right time he’s gonna be in a good place.”
Leger agreed and focused on the fastball as being the common denominator for any pitcher’s ability to advance in the minor leagues.
“His main pitch is the slider, but if he doesn’t command his fastball, if he doesn’t have something other than his slider … batters in this league are smart enough to make adjustments and sit on one pitch,” Leger said. “He has some pitch-ability.
“The ability to mix his pitches and know when a hitter is looking for a certain pitch, and play that mouse and cat game, he does that well.”
Young, but battle-tested
While not yet 25, Pereira is more battle-tested than many pitchers his age. Pereira not only pitched in 61 minor-league games by the age of 20, he grew up playing at a high level in Panama. This past spring, he appeared in two World Baseball Classic games for Panama.
“He has some experience,” Leger said. “This kid has pitched in some major events representing Panama. He can pitch.”
Pereira has a ‘special' bond with Pages
And he seems to pitch especially well with Pages behind the plate. The duo has a distinct connection and Pereira feels extra confidence working with Venezuelan native Pages.
“It’s something special,” Pereira said. “The ability that we have on and off the field, to be able to communicate what we’ve built and the trust, just going out there and being able to trust each other.”
Pereira is tentatively scheduled to make his next start on Tuesday, when the Cardinals open a home series against Tulsa.
Cardinals win 4th straight
The Springfield Cashew Chickens — the Cardinals’ alter-ego — returned on Thursday night at Hammons Field and beat the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 6-5. Kenny Hernandez pitched 6⅓ scoreless innings and Jose Alvarez had two RBIs for the Fightin’ Cashews.
Springfield (26-28) won its fourth straight overall and third in a row over the Naturals, the Double-A team of the Kansas City Royals. The teams resume the series at 7:05 p.m. Friday, with post-game fireworks on the schedule.
Springfield Cardinals this week
Tuesday — Springfield 6, Northwest Arkansas 1
Wednesday — Springfield 6, Northwest Arkansas 4
Thursday — Springfield 6, Northwest Arkansas 5
Friday, 7:05 p.m. — vs. Northwest Arkansas (Friday Night Fireworks)
Saturday, 6:35 p.m. — vs. Northwest Arkansas (Ryan Helsley bobblehead giveaway)
Sunday, 6:05 p.m. — vs. Northwest Arkansas (Ice Cream Sunday, Kids Run the Bases)
Tickets — Visit the Hammons Field box office or the Springfield Cardinals’ website
