Jhonny

Pereda

Pereda knocked a base hit in the fourth inning, then padded the Mariners’ lead with a three-run blast off Jonah Tong in the fifth. It was Pereda’s second home run in 12 games while hitting .263 with the Mariners as he helps fill in for the injured Cal Raleigh (oblique), splitting time behind the dish with Mitch Garver.

Donovan wasn’t the only player scratched, as the Mariners also removed Mitch Garver from Saturday’s lineup. No reason has been given as to why either player was removed, but it’s very likely injury-related. Leo Rivas is now the third baseman, and Jonny Pereda will handle catching duties. There should be an update on both shortly.

He’ll split time with Mitch Garver while Cal Raleigh recovers from his right oblique strain. Pereda was hitting .321 in 100 plate appearances with the Rainiers this year, but is a career .248/.303/.301 hitter in the bigs and figures to only draw starts against lefties or when Garver needs a blow.

The Mariners must be confident that Cal Raleigh is ready to resume catching regularly. Pereda was 2-for-5 while helping to fill in for him behind the plate this week.

We still have yet to receive word on exactly what’s ailing Raleigh, other than “general soreness”, though he did undergo an MRI exam after being scratched from the lineup on Saturday. Jhonny Pereda will start in his place behind the dish and will bat eighth for the M’s against Kris Bubic and the Royals on Sunday afternoon in Seattle.

Pereda will help out behind the plate with Cal Raleigh apparently injured. The 30-year-old was hitting .333/.418/.436 in 92 plate appearances for Tacoma.

Pereda was designated for assignment by the Twins last week. The 29-year-old will go into spring training as a depth piece behind Cal Raleigh and Andrew Knizner.

Pereda is off the 40-man roster with the signings of Victor Caratini and Tyler Rogers now official. Pereda is just a depth piece, but teams are always looking for catching so there could be interest on the wire.

Pereda will remain with Minnesota on their taxi squad for the final few days of the regular season with starting backstop Ryan Jeffers back from the concussion injured list.

Jeffers heads to the injured list following a two-game absence after taking a foul ball to the catcher’s mask during Thursday’s game. There is no timetable for his return at the moment. Jhonny Pereda and Mickey Gasper will handle the catching duties for Minnesota for the foreseeable future.