Jhonny Pereda Bio
Jhonny Fernando Pereda is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who currently plays in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on April 18, 1996, Pereda has built his career through the minor league systems of several organizations before reaching the majors in 2024. A switch-hitting backstop with a strong defensive reputation, he has suited up for the Miami Marlins, Athletics, Minnesota Twins, and Seattle Mariners.
Pereda first signed as an international free agent in 2013 and spent more than a decade working his way up through the minor leagues before earning his first MLB opportunity. He made his major league debut in 2024 with the Marlins and has continued to bounce between the majors and Triple-A as a depth catcher for contending clubs.
Early Life and Background
Jhonny Fernando Pereda was born on April 18, 1996, in Venezuela. Growing up in a country with a deep baseball tradition, he developed his skills as a catcher during his formative years and earned the attention of MLB scouts while still a teenager. His full given name reflects his Venezuelan heritage, and his journey through professional baseball began when he was just 16 years old.
Pereda came up through the Venezuelan baseball system, where catching prospects are routinely scouted by international scouting departments. His signing at age 16 marked the beginning of a long developmental path that would take him through multiple organizations, leagues, and levels of professional baseball in both the United States and his home country.
Path to Baseball
Pereda signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent on April 1, 2013, launching his professional career. He spent his first two seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Cubs, posting a .221 batting average across 122 games while learning the fundamentals of catching at the professional level. In 2015 and 2016, he advanced to the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs, where he batted .258 with two home runs and 24 RBI in 52 games.
By 2017, Pereda had moved stateside to the Single-A South Bend Cubs, where he played 92 games and batted .249/.335/.290 with 29 RBI. The following year, with the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, he set career highs with eight home runs and 57 RBI across 122 games, and he was recognized as the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues. After a 2019 season at Double-A Tennessee, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox organization in March 2020.
Jhonny Pereda Career
Early Career (2013–2021)
Pereda spent his earliest professional seasons in the Cubs system, working his way up from the Venezuelan Summer League through Single-A, High-A, and Double-A. After the 2019 season, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox as the player to be named later in the deal that sent Travis Lakins Sr. to Chicago. He was released and re-signed by the Red Sox in July 2020, though the cancellation of the minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic kept him off the field that year.
In 2021, Pereda returned to action with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs and Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, combining for a .246/.343/.325 batting line with 20 RBI across 64 games. Following the season, he elected free agency on November 7, 2021, marking the start of a stretch in which he would sign a series of minor league deals with different organizations.
San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds (2021–2023)
On December 15, 2021, Pereda signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants and received an invitation to major league spring training. He spent the entire 2022 season with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, batting .272/.371/.379 with four home runs and 25 RBI across 65 games. He elected free agency again in November 2022.
Pereda signed with the Cincinnati Reds on December 6, 2022, on another minor league deal that included a spring training invitation. With the Triple-A Louisville Bats in 2023, he put together his most productive offensive season, slashing .325/.405/.468 with six home runs and 36 RBI in 68 games. He elected free agency once more on November 6, 2023.
Miami Marlins (2024)
On January 17, 2024, Pereda signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. After dealing with visa issues that caused him to miss spring training, he was assigned to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and batted .346 in his first eight games. On April 15, Pereda was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the majors for the first time.
His first major league hit came on August 8, 2024, off All-Star pitcher Hunter Greene of the Cincinnati Reds, in a game where Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz accidentally threw the used ball to a ball boy, who tossed it into the stands before the Marlins bench ultimately retrieved it. Pereda also recorded his first major league RBI in that same contest. In 20 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .231/.250/.231 with four RBI. The Marlins designated him for assignment on January 28, 2025.
Athletics Era (2025)
Pereda was traded to the Athletics on January 30, 2025, in exchange for cash considerations. In 17 appearances with the club, he batted .175 with three RBI and six walks. One memorable moment came on May 15, when he entered a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers as a position player pitcher and struck out Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. The Athletics designated him for assignment on July 19, 2025.
Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners (2025–2026)
On July 22, 2025, Pereda was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins. In 11 appearances with Minnesota, he posted a strong .345/.387/.483 slash line with one RBI and two walks. The Twins designated him for assignment on January 23, 2026.
Pereda was then traded to the Seattle Mariners on January 27, 2026, in exchange for cash considerations. He was optioned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to begin the regular season, but was recalled to the majors on May 14 following an injury to catcher Cal Raleigh. On May 20, 2026, he hit his first MLB career home run against the Chicago White Sox.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pereda is regarded as a defense-first catcher with a strong arm and reliable game-calling skills, a profile that was recognized when he was named the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues after the 2018 season. Offensively, he has shown the ability to hit for average at the Triple-A level, particularly during his .325 season with Louisville in 2023. His willingness to pitch in mop-up situations, including his strikeout of Shohei Ohtani, has also made him a valued clubhouse presence.
Notable Events and Milestones
Some of the most memorable moments of Pereda’s career include his first MLB hit and RBI off Hunter Greene in August 2024, his strikeout of Shohei Ohtani while pitching for the Athletics in May 2025, and his first major league home run hit on May 20, 2026, against the Chicago White Sox. He has also been recognized as the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues following the 2018 season.
Jhonny Pereda Career Wins
Jhonny Pereda’s professional record reflects more than a decade spent working his way through the minor leagues before reaching MLB in 2024. His win totals at the major league level remain limited as he continues to serve primarily as a depth catcher.
MLB Highlights
Through the early portion of his MLB career, Pereda has played for the Miami Marlins, Athletics, Minnesota Twins, and Seattle Mariners, with his first major league hit, RBI, and home run all serving as signature milestones. Through statistics available on June 11, 2026, he had recorded a .256 batting average, two home runs, and 12 RBI in his big-league career.
Other Wins and Performances
Pereda’s most productive minor league season came in 2023 with the Triple-A Louisville Bats, where he slashed .325/.405/.468 with six home runs and 36 RBI. He also posted strong years with the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2018 and the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats in 2022.
Jhonny Pereda Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Jhonny Fernando Pereda’s immediate family, parents, or relatives involved in baseball is not widely documented.
Personal Life
Pereda was born and raised in Venezuela and continues his professional baseball career in the United States. Detailed public information about his spouse, children, or personal residence is not available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Pereda play for three different MLB organizations, beginning with the Athletics after being acquired from the Marlins in a cash deal on January 30, 2025. In 17 appearances with the Athletics, he batted .175 with three RBI and six walks, with one of the highlights of his tenure coming on May 15 when he struck out Shohei Ohtani while pitching in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Athletics designated him for assignment on July 19, 2025.
Shortly after being designated, Pereda was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins on July 22, 2025. In 11 appearances with Minnesota, he delivered a strong .345/.387/.483 slash line with one RBI and two walks, giving him a productive finish to the season. His late-season surge with the Twins reinforced his value as a reliable depth catcher capable of contributing offensively when given regular playing time.
Pereda’s 2025 campaign reflected the journeyman nature of his MLB career, as he moved between organizations while continuing to provide veteran catching depth. His performance with the Twins positioned him well heading into the offseason, and he was ultimately designated for assignment by Minnesota on January 23, 2026, before being traded to the Seattle Mariners four days later.
