Jhonny Pereda Bio
Jhonny Fernando Pereda is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins. A switch-hitting backstop with a defensive-first profile, Pereda has built a career on strong receiving and game-calling after signing as an international free agent in 2013. He made his MLB debut in 2024 with the Miami Marlins, spent a brief stretch with the Athletics in 2025, and was claimed by the Minnesota Twins later that same year. Across the minors and majors, he has been recognized for his work behind the plate, including being named the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues following the 2018 season.
Early Life and Background
Jhonny Fernando Pereda was born on April 18, 1996. He grew up in Venezuela, a country that has produced a long line of major league catchers, and developed his game in that baseball-rich environment. From a young age, Pereda gravitated toward the catching position, drawn to the leadership demands and defensive responsibilities that come with handling a pitching staff. His formative years were spent in local youth and amateur circles that are common in Venezuelan baseball development.
Pereda’s path to professional baseball followed the well-traveled international free-agent route that has carried many Venezuelan players to affiliated ball. On April 1, 2013, at the age of 17, he signed with the Chicago Cubs, beginning a long climb through the minor leagues. The early portion of his career was spent primarily in the Venezuelan Summer League and rookie-level leagues, where he focused on refining his receiving, blocking, and throwing mechanics while adjusting to a full professional schedule.
Path to Baseball
Pereda’s developmental ladder began in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2013 and 2014, where he appeared in 122 games and hit .221. He then moved to the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, batting .258 with two home runs and 24 RBI across 52 games. In 2017, he advanced to the Single-A South Bend Cubs, playing 92 games and posting a .249/.335/.290 line with no home runs and 29 RBI. Each step tested both his offensive consistency and his defensive craft behind the plate.
The biggest leap in Pereda’s profile came in 2018, when he played 122 games for the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans and hit .272/.348/.363 with career highs of eight home runs and 57 RBI. After that season, he was named the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues, a distinction that reinforced his identity as a defense-first catcher. In 2019, he reached Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies, slashing .241/.336/.305 with two home runs and 39 RBI in 98 contests, solidifying his standing as a legitimate catching prospect.
Jhonny Pereda Career
Early Career (2013-2019)
Pereda’s first six professional seasons were spent entirely within the Chicago Cubs organization. After signing in April 2013, he worked his way from the Venezuelan Summer League up through the rookie-level Arizona League, Single-A South Bend, and High-A Myrtle Beach. His most productive offensive year in this stretch came at Myrtle Beach in 2018, when he set career highs in home runs and RBI while earning recognition as the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues.
On March 23, 2020, Pereda was traded to the Boston Red Sox as the player to be named later in a deal that had previously sent Travis Lakins Sr. to Chicago. He was released on July 15, 2020, but re-signed the following day on a new minor league deal. The 2020 season was lost to the cancellation of the minor league schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Pereda split the year between the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs and Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, combining for a .246/.343/.325 line with no home runs and 20 RBI across 64 games, then elected free agency on November 7, 2021.
San Francisco Giants (2022)
On December 15, 2021, Pereda signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants and was later invited to major league spring training. He spent the 2022 season with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, appearing in 65 games and hitting .272/.371/.379 with four home runs and 25 RBI. His on-base skills and defensive reliability remained his calling cards. Pereda elected free agency on November 10, 2022.
Cincinnati Reds (2023)
Pereda signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on December 6, 2022, that included an invitation to spring training. He spent the entire 2023 campaign with the Triple-A Louisville Bats, playing in 68 games and slashing .325/.405/.468 with six home runs and 36 RBI. That batting line represented one of the most productive offensive seasons of his career. He elected free agency on November 6, 2023.
Miami Marlins (2024)
On January 17, 2024, Pereda signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. He missed all of spring training due to visa issues that delayed his entry into the United States and was assigned to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, where he went 9-for-26 (.346) in eight games. On April 15, 2024, he was added 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 in which Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz accidentally threw the used ball to a ball boy, who tossed it into the stands before Marlins personnel recovered it for posterity. Pereda also recorded his first major league RBI in the same contest, also against Greene. Across 20 games in his rookie year, he batted .231/.250/.231 with no home runs and four RBI. He was designated for assignment on January 28, 2025.
Athletics (2025)
On January 30, 2025, Pereda was traded to the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations. He appeared in 17 games for the club, going 7-for-40 (.175) with three RBI and six walks. On May 15, 2025, he drew national attention when, pitching as a position player against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he struck out Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Pereda was designated for assignment by the Athletics on July 19, 2025.
Minnesota Twins Era (2025-Present)
On July 22, 2025, Pereda was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins, the organization in which he continues to play. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for a depth role behind the plate, where his defensive track record and experience in catching upper-level staffs remain valuable. His transition to the Twins added another chapter to a journeyman career that has included stints in five major league organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Pereda’s career came on May 15, 2025, when he struck out Shohei Ohtani while pitching as a position player for the Athletics against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Earlier, on August 8, 2024, he recorded his first major league hit and first major league RBI, both off Cincinnati Reds All-Star Hunter Greene, in a game whose storylines stretched beyond the box score. He was also named the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues following the 2018 season, a career-defining recognition for a glove-first backstop.
Jhonny Pereda Career Wins
Jhonny Pereda’s professional résumé is defined less by award totals and more by defensive milestones, longevity, and the breadth of organizations he has represented. Verified achievements include being named the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues after the 2018 season, the top of his minor league home run and RBI marks at High-A Myrtle Beach that same year, and his first major league hit and RBI in 2024. Strikeouts of marquee hitters, including Shohei Ohtani, have added to his career highlights.
Jhonny Pereda Family
Personal Life
Public information about Jhonny Fernando Pereda’s personal and family life is limited. He is a Venezuelan national who has built his career in the United States since signing with the Chicago Cubs in 2013. Further verified details about parents, spouse, or children are not available in the sources reviewed for this profile.
2025 Season Performance
Jhonny Pereda’s 2025 season has reflected the journeyman reality of a third-string catcher bouncing between rosters. He began the year with the Athletics after being acquired in a January trade and appeared in 17 games, hitting .175 with three RBI and six walks, while earning a memorable moment on the mound by striking out Shohei Ohtani. After being designated for assignment in mid-July, he was claimed by the Minnesota Twins and added to their catching depth chart.
At Triple-A Jacksonville in 2024, Pereda had opened eyes with a .346 average in eight games before his promotion, and at Triple-A Louisville in 2023 he slashed .325/.405/.468 with six home runs, demonstrating that his bat can play when given regular at-bats. His role in Minnesota is expected to focus on organizational depth, defensive mentorship, and readiness to step in when injuries arise.
Looking ahead, Pereda’s outlook rests on continuing to deliver the defensive reliability that has defined his career while pushing for more consistent offensive production. With the Minnesota Twins in 2025, he is positioned within a stable organization that values pitch-framing and game-calling, two areas where he has long graded out well. A strong finish to the year could solidify his place in the team’s catching mix heading into 2026.