Pereira suffers concussion after leaping catch; Perez called up for debut

NEW YORK -- After making a spectacular catch in Wednesday’s 10-5 loss to the Yankees, White Sox center fielder Everson Pereira was placed on the seven-day injured list with a concussion, and the team called up outfielder Junior Perez from Triple-A Charlotte.

With two outs in the seventh inning, runners at the corners and White Sox right-hander Trevor Richards on the mound, Ben Rice hit a ball deep to left-center field that looked like a guaranteed double. But Pereira made an all-out leaping, backhanded catch and then smashed his face into the wall.

Pereira stayed on the ground for several minutes after making the play, but he got up on his own power and walked off the field before leaving the game for pinch-hitter Tristan Peters in the eighth.

“Pereira is better today. He is banged up from last night. He is in good spirits and doing OK,” manager Will Venable said.

As for Perez, he played 36 games for Triple-A Las Vegas in the Athletics’ system this season before being acquired by the White Sox for left-hander Jackson Nove on May 16. Perez had a slash line of .230/.326./.432 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 20 games for Charlotte. Perez will make his Major League debut against the Yankees on Thursday. He is hitting eighth and playing left field.

“He is an above-average runner, defender on the corners and projects about average in center field,” Venable said. “Stolen bases are part of his game. He has plus power and makes plus decisions at the plate. He is very similar to Pereira.”