Blue Jays: Nate Pearson Set To Begin A Crucial Season

According to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Blue Jays’ top prospect Nate Pearson is en route to Houston and expected to take the ball in tomorrow’s series finale against the Astros.

Pearson, who was sidelined for the first month of the season due to a groin injury, made his 2021 debut Tuesday night in Trenton, New Jersey, the Jays temporary AAA home.  The Florida native would put together a solid outing, throwing 3.2 innings, while only allowing one run and striking out eight batters along the way.

This brief outing was enough to prove to the front office that Pearson is ready to return to the show, as he tries to build off a shaky rookie season.  Though it’s only the second year of his young career, Pearson is heading into a very important season for himself and one that could determine his role in the organization going forward.

The number eight prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline generated a lot of hype heading into his rookie campaign.  Most of the buzz was due to his elite fastball that regularly touched triple digits and received an 80 grade according to Pipeline (the highest grade that can be awarded).  Pearson was viewed by many as the Jays’ future ace and a lot of people around the sport were expecting the hard throwing righty to come up to the Majors and immediately dominate.

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These are extremely high expectations that were placed on Pearson, and unfortunately he was unable to live up to them.  In five games last season, he threw 18 innings and posted a 6.00 ERA, with a SO/W ratio just over 1.  Pearson struggled to find the strike zone constantly and couldn’t execute a third pitch, which is crucial for a big league starter.  The Florida native’s season was cut short thanks to elbow tightness which landed him on the IL for over a month.

The Jays want Pearson to be a starter, but they’re entering their competitive window and may have to make a decision about his long-term role sooner than they would like to, if this year doesn’t go according to plan.  Pearson is going to have to prove to the organization that he can stay healthy, which is something he has had trouble with dating back to his time in college.  He’s also going to have to show the ability to throw more strikes and will also have to see growth from his third pitch, whether it be his change up or curveball, if he wants to succeed as a starter in this league.

I love Nate Pearson’s game, who doesn’t, and if he is able to work out these issues, he has a chance to become one of the premier pitchers in all of baseball, thanks to the raw tools he possesses.

If he is unable to stay healthy, or if the progress isn’t there this season, the organization is going to have to take a hard look at Pearson this offseason and re-determine if being a starting pitcher is his best role for the team going forward.