Jose Peraza, 21, is a candidate to be placed on the 60-day disabled list if his hamstring injury is severe enough. (Sarah Reingewirtz/Staff photographer)
Dodgers infielder Jose Peraza, who re-aggravated his strained left hamstring Sunday in Phoenix, underwent an MRI exam Monday, manager Don Mattingly said. The results of the MRI haven’t been announced yet but the manager acknowledged the injury could end Peraza’s season.
“The doctor’s going to come in tonight and look at him, and let us know where we’re going with that,” Mattingly said.
Peraza, 21, whom the Dodgers acquired from the Atlanta Braves in a three-team, 13-player trade in July, has a .182 batting average in seven major league games. His true value lies as a possible pinch runner who can play multiple positions on defense — someone who could offer a similar value to the Dodgers that Terrance Gore gave the Kansas City Royals’ in their playoff run last year.
Gore, 24, was summoned from the minors specifically to pinch run in the postseason. He stole three bases in three attempts without getting an official plate appearance. The Royals won the American League pennant for the first time since 1985.
In a best-case scenario, Peraza is able to return quickly and enter the conversation for a possible playoff roster spot. The National League Division Series begins Oct. 9, less than four weeks from now.
In a worst-case scenario for Peraza, his season is over entirely. The Dodgers would be pressed to find speed off the bench, and Peraza’s absence could improve the chances that Corey Seager, Chase Utley and/or Carl Crawford makes the NLDS roster.
Peraza is a candidate to be placed on the 60-day disabled list if it’s determined that his season is over. That would hypothetically clear a 40-man roster spot for pitcher Carlos Frias, who is with the team and essentially waiting for an opportunity to be activated.
How much will it hurt the Dodgers to lose Peraza’s speed off the bench?
“That’s up in the air right now,” Mattingly said. “It’s a luxury. Sometimes you would need it. Sometimes you wouldn’t. We had Dee (Gordon) a couple years ago. I think we used him one time. Maybe we had him another time and didn’t use him at all. That’s one of those things you’ll never know whether you need it or not when you get to that spot.”
Speaking specifically of the postseason pinch-runner’s role, Mattingly said the Dodgers would not consider another player already within the system other than Peraza.
