Blue Jays: Top Prospect Throwing Live Batting Practice

Over the last few years, the Blue Jays have had a lot of high-end pitching prospects come through the system, whether it was Nate Pearson, Alek Manoah or Simeon Woods Richardson; but they have another pitcher who is on the road to success and that is Eric Pardinho.

In 2019, at just 18 years of age Eric Pardinho was ranked as the #5 prospect in the Blue Jays organization (according to MLB Pipeline), however, a year later he had to undergo Tommy John surgery and now he is on the road to recovery.

Wednesday afternoon, the now 20 year old posted on twitter a video of him completing his first live batting practice pitching appearance.

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Pardinho was progressing through the Blue Jays system nicely in 2018-19 as he posted a 6-4 record with a 2.57 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, while  striking out 10.2 batters over nine innings in Rookie Ball and Single-A.  In both leagues, Pardinho was at least a couple years younger than the average age in the league, which are both young leagues to start with.

Things were looking up for the prospect until he had to undergo the Tommy John surgery in February 2020.  Scott Mitchell reported this past winter that when pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training, Pardinho was already there as he had spent almost the entire time since his surgery in Dunedin.  The young pitcher had been living out of a hotel working through his rehab.

Now that he has pitched live batting practice, his next step would be to throw in a simulated game and hopefully in the not to distant future you will see him in a minor league game.  My belief is that the Blue Jays would like to see Pardinho join the Vancouver Canadians this summer where he could join a starting rotation that already has some other top pitching prospects including Adam Kloffenstein.

If healthy, where would you rank Pardinho on the Blue Jays pitching prospect list?