Everson Pereira described his injury-plagued 2026 as “definitely frustrating.”
“But there’s nothing I can do about it,” the outfielder said through an interpreter on Monday. “Thank God I’m here right now and hopefully I can stay healthy for the rest of the season.”
The Chicago White Sox reinstated Pereira from the seven-day injured list ahead of the series opener against the New York Yankees at Rate Field. He returns after missing more than a month following a concussion.
“It feels good, I’m happy,” Pereira said. “I was following the guys, how they were playing. It’s good to be back.”
Pereira, 25, sustained the concussion on June 17 against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, leaping and crashing into the wall during the seventh inning while making a catch. He went on the injured list the next day.
He said it was his first time suffering a concussion.
“The most difficult part was I was feeling good physically, but I wasn’t getting the green light to play,” Pereira said. “Managing that was the most difficult part.”
He doesn’t plan on letting the incident slow him down if he is near the wall again.
“I’m just going to try to catch the ball no matter what,” Pereira said.
Pereira entered Monday slashing .232/.299/.420/.719 (16-for-69) with four doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs and seven runs over 21 games.
“Everson’s been great,” manager Will Venable said. “Obviously we saw the defense and unfortunately that’s what led to this one. But really good defender. Obviously a ton of power. We’ve seen him make good swing decisions, so he’s made a huge impact.
“Obviously a real toolsy guy so there’s a lot of impact there, both sides of the ball.”
He previously missed time because of a left ankle sprain (on the injured list from April 2-14) and right pectoral strain (on the IL from April 29 to June 11).
“We’re excited to have him in there,” Venable said. “The team has changed since he’s been out, both times really. It’s been so long since he’s been back. Ironically it was the last Yankees series that we saw him. He’ll be more in a role where you’ll see (the right-handed hitting Pereira) against left-handed pitching probably more. Maybe some opportunities against some righty starters.
“But for now, especially up front, make sure he’s doing all right and gets back feeling good and staying feeling good, probably just against lefties to start.”
In Monday’s corresponding roster move, the Sox optioned outfielder Junior Pérez to Triple-A Charlotte. Pérez slashed .171/.194/.429 (6-for-35) with three home runs, six RBIs and five runs in 22 games with the Sox.
Pereira played seven games over the last week-plus with the Knights on a rehab assignment, where he went 4-for-25 with one home run and four RBIs.
Fellow Sox outfielder Austin Hays remains on a rehab assignment with the Knights, where he is 7-for-25 with two home runs and six RBIs through seven games. Hays is working his way back from a left calf strain that landed him on the injured list on May 2. His most recent injury rehab assignment began on July 17.
“(Hays is) in a good spot, too,” Venable said. “Still in that spot where he’s continuing to build volume and make sure that he’s recovering well. He’s getting closer every day and obviously the homer (on Sunday) is nice to see. But still building up there.
“I think he’s been up to seven innings out in the field, mixing with some DH spots — so as he gets more and more innings in these games, just making sure that he’s recovering well afterwards is a big part of him really building his volume.”
Hays and Pereira both homered for the Knights on Sunday.
“Every time that you hit a homer, you feel incredible,” Pereira said.
Pereira returns just in time to face a pair of his former organizations. He played in 50 career games over two major-league seasons with the Yankees (2023) and the Tampa Bay Rays (2025), batting a combined .146 (23-for-158) with five doubles, two home runs and 18 RBIs. He was traded to the Sox, along with infielder Tanner Murray, from Tampa Bay in November.
The Sox follow the four-game home series against the Yankees with a three-game series against the Rays over the weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Regardless of the opponent, Pereira said the focus is “try to win games.”
