Nick Pereira

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #16 prospect in 2008
  Pereira literally wrote the book on pitching. He and fellow Giants minor leaguer Dave McKae authored and self-published a 63-page manual titled "In Pursuit of Pitching Perfection." The book includes diagrams and photos that demonstrate basic mechanics, grips, exercises and other techniques. Pereira must practice what he preaches, because he ranks as the system's best upper-level pitching prospect. He spent all of 2007 at Double-A Connecticut, got stronger in the second half and carried his success into a solid showing in the Arizona Fall League. Club officials were happy with his steady progress one year after he jumped from high Class A to Triple-A and was San Francisco's representative in the 2006 Futures Game. Pereira thrives with his ability to locate his upper-80s fastball, his changeup and his curveball. None of his pitches stand out, but he gets outs and keeps lefthanders at bay with his changeup. He's one of the most athletic pitchers in the system and compares favorably to Brad Hennessey, who has been valuable to the Giants as both a starter and reliever. Pereira's next stop will be a longer engagement in Triple-A than he had in the second half of 2006.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #15 prospect in 2007
  Like former Giants prospect Jesse Foppert, Pereira is a University of San Francisco product who jumped onto the radar screen with a strong showing in the college summer Valley League. While he hasn't dominated the minor leagues as Foppert did, Pereira is progressing almost as quickly. The Giants aren't afraid to push college pitchers who match smarts with stuff, and Pereira jumped from high Class A to Triple-A with plenty of the summer to spare. He represented the Giants in the Futures Game but didn't pitch. Pereira reminds some in the organization of Brad Hennessey, a command pitcher with an even temperament who competes well. He struggled at times in Triple-A but impressed coaches with the way he bounced back and made adjustments. He pitches with a fastball at 88-90 mph and can hit 93, but the key is the good sink and run he generates. He's still learning fastball command, but it helps that he can throw his changeup and curveball for strikes and isn't afraid to go to his offspeed stuff when behind in the count. Pereira fields his position well and runs the bases better than many of his position teammates. He's expected to return to Triple-A to open the season and should provide valuable depth to the big league club.