Jhonny Pereda Bio
Jhonny Fernando Pereda (born April 18, 1996) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. Pereda reached the major leagues in 2024 after a decade-long climb through multiple minor league systems and has been noted for his defensive skills behind the plate.
Early Life and Background
Jhonny Fernando Pereda was born on April 18, 1996, and is a Venezuelan national. He entered professional baseball as an international free agent, beginning a development path that would take him through the Chicago Cubs organization and several minor league affiliates.
Pereda signed with the Chicago Cubs on April 1, 2013, beginning his career in the Venezuelan Summer League. He spent his earliest professional seasons in Venezuela before moving to rookie and Single-A levels in the United States, gaining experience as a catch-and-defend backstop while developing his offensive approach.
Path to Baseball
Pereda progressed steadily through farm systems, spending time with the Venezuelan Summer League Cubs and the Arizona League Cubs early in his career. By 2017 he was a regular at Single-A South Bend, and in 2018 he established career offensive highs at High-A Myrtle Beach while earning recognition for his defensive work behind the plate.
Across multiple organizations Pereda refined his receiving, framing and game-calling skills. He continued to move through Double-A and Triple-A levels, compiling improved offensive numbers in select seasons that kept him on the radar of major league organizations and ultimately led to an MLB roster opportunity in 2024.
Jhonny Pereda Career
Early Career (2013–2019)
Pereda began his professional career after signing with the Chicago Cubs in 2013. He spent his first two seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Cubs, hitting .221 across 122 games before moving to the United States to play in the Arizona League and other low minors.
In the Arizona League during 2015 and 2016 he produced a combined .258 batting average with two home runs and 24 RBI across 52 games. In 2017 he appeared in 92 games for the Single-A South Bend Cubs and posted a .249/.335/.290 line with 29 RBI. The following year at High-A Myrtle Beach he set career highs with eight home runs and 57 RBI while appearing in 122 games and drawing attention as one of the stronger defensive catchers in the minors.
Minor League and Organizational Moves (2020–2023)
Pereda was involved in multiple organizational moves that shaped his path to the majors. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in March 2020 as the player to be named later in a prior deal, and although he did not play in 2020 due to the canceled minor league season he returned in 2021 to split time at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, producing a .246/.343/.325 line with 20 RBI over 64 games.
Following stints with the San Francisco Giants organization in 2022 and with the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2023, Pereda produced one of his best offensive minor league seasons at Triple-A Louisville in 2023, slashing .325/.405/.468 with six home runs and 36 RBI across 68 games. That performance helped position him for a major league opportunity in 2024.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2024)
Pereda signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins on January 17, 2024, and began the season with the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Visa issues delayed his spring training, but he opened the season in Triple-A and produced a strong brief showing, going 9-for-26 (.346) across eight games before being added to the Marlins’ 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues on April 15, 2024.
Pereda recorded his first major league hit and his first major league RBI on August 8, 2024, against Cincinnati Reds starter Hunter Greene. He finished his rookie campaign appearing in 20 games and batting .231/.250/.231 with four RBI. The Marlins designated him for assignment in January 2025 as roster moves continued in the offseason.
Athletics Season (2025)
On January 30, 2025, Pereda was traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for cash considerations. He made unique contributions during his time with Oakland, including an appearance as a position-player pitcher on May 15, 2025, when he struck out Shohei Ohtani in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Across 17 major league appearances with the Athletics in 2025, Pereda went 7-for-40 (.175) with three RBI and six walks. The A’s designated him for assignment on July 19, 2025, as the team adjusted its roster during the season.
Minnesota Twins Era (2025–Present)
The Minnesota Twins claimed Pereda off waivers on July 22, 2025. In limited action for Minnesota that season he produced an offensive surge in a small sample, slashing .345/.387/.483 across 11 appearances while adding one RBI and two walks. His play provided organizational depth behind the plate and a right-handed offensive option in late-season bench work.
Pereda is listed with the Minnesota Twins as his current major league organization and remains a catcher whose primary contributions are defensive preparation, pitch framing and occasional offensive upside in short stints at the plate.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pereda’s strengths are rooted in defense and game management. He has earned recognition for his work as a receiver and for his ability to control the strike zone as a hitter in select seasons. Teams have valued his framing, pitch-calling and steady presence handling staffs at multiple minor league levels, traits that helped him reach the majors.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Pereda’s career include signing as an international free agent in 2013, earning minor league defensive recognition in 2018, making his major league debut in 2024, recording his first major league hit and RBI on August 8, 2024, and striking out Shohei Ohtani on May 15, 2025, while appearing as a position-player pitcher.
Jhonny Pereda Career Wins
Pereda’s career highlights reflect steady development through the minors and measurable impact in limited major league action. He compiled notable offensive seasons at High-A and Triple-A, received accolades for defense, and translated that background into a sustained presence on MLB rosters beginning in 2024.
Minor League Highlights
Pereda produced several strong minor league campaigns. In 2018 with the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans he hit eight home runs and drove in 57 runs across 122 games while posting a .272/.348/.363 line and earning recognition as a top defensive catcher in the minors. In 2022 with Triple-A Sacramento he hit .272/.371/.379 with four home runs and 25 RBI in 65 games. In 2023 with Triple-A Louisville he posted a breakout .325/.405/.468 line with six home runs and 36 RBI across 68 games, prompting free agent interest and eventual major league roster opportunities.
MLB Highlights
Pereda’s MLB milestones include his promotion to the major leagues with the Miami Marlins in April 2024 and his first major league hit and RBI on August 8, 2024. During the 2025 season he appeared for both the Oakland Athletics and the Minnesota Twins, producing useful offensive bursts in limited plate appearances and adding unique moments such as his May 15, 2025, strikeout of Shohei Ohtani while serving as an emergency pitcher.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Beyond box-score milestones, Pereda’s career includes the defensive recognition he earned in 2018 and the organizational versatility he demonstrated across several franchises. His ability to contribute as a defensive catcher and to provide short-term offensive value at Triple-A and in the majors has been a consistent theme of his professional tenure.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of movement and opportunity for Pereda. He began the calendar year changing organizations when the Miami Marlins designated him for assignment and then traded him to the Oakland Athletics on January 30. With Oakland he saw major league plate appearances and supplied several defensive outings while producing a .175 average across 17 games.
Following his designation for assignment by the Athletics in mid-July, the Minnesota Twins claimed Pereda off waivers on July 22, 2025. In an 11-game stint with Minnesota he posted a .345/.387/.483 slash line, providing a brief offensive spark and additional catching depth as the Twins navigated the late stages of the season. Pereda’s 2025 season underscored his role as a depth catcher who can handle pitching staffs and contribute in reserve duty when called upon.