Nate Pearson and the Toronto Blue Jays’ declining role.
As the 2020 season approached, right-hander Nate Pearson was not only one of the best prospects in the Blue Jays farm system but also ranked highly throughout the league, coming in at number eight on MLB Pipeline. Having made his professional debut, the 6’6″ Florida product was dominating Minor League opponents with a fastball that could reach triple digits, leading many Jays fans to believe he would be the team’s next “ace.”
That’s not to say Pearson was flawless; after getting selected from the College of Central Florida in the 2017 MLB Draft, his progress was halted by his injury history and some unfortunate circumstances. After suffering an elbow injury in his first game of the 2018 season, which required surgery to repair, he missed most of the season due to a series of lat, groin, and elbow injuries. He also suffered from mononucleosis for a brief period of time.
Pearson eventually made his big league debut during the 2020 campaign, making four starts before elbow tightness sent him back to the IL. He made one relief appearance to round out the season and pitched two innings in Game #2 of the AL Wild Card, striking out five Rays batters without allowing a run or a hit. He finished his first year with a 6.00 ERA through 18 innings with a 7.19 FIP and 16 strikeouts through the regular season. He struggled with his command at times, pitching to a 6.5 BB/9.
Examining Nate Pearson’s 2024 role with the Blue Jays..
He returned to the injured list to begin his sophomore season, and he battled with command in his first start of the season on May 9th against the Houston Astros (five walks, three earned runs, and four hits with zero strikeouts). That start sent him back down to triple-A. In late September, he made a comeback to the game as a relief pitcher, and he was successful in this new role, pitching to a 2.84 ERA in 12 2/3 innings. Even though he gave up seven walks, he was still a little wild at times, but he only allowed opponents to hit.208.
Pearson was vying for a spot on the 2023 Opening Day roster but lost out, thus he started the year in Buffalo after spending the whole 2022 in the Minor Leagues (13 bullpen appearances, 15 1/3 innings). Over the course of the season, Pearson spent the majority of his time riding the options train between the two sites. He concluded with a 4.85 ERA (and FIP) via 42 2/3 innings, 9.1 K/9, and a much-improved 3.1 BB/9.
Heading into the 2024 season, the right-hander is in a tough spot when it comes to cracking the big league roster. His days as a starter are likely numbered considering the injury history and his use as a reliever over the past two seasons, although the Jays could look to stretch him out when considering their lack of depth at the position outside of the current rotation. His plus fastball does bode well for a late-inning role in the bullpen, but the Jays don’t have a lot of room in their relief corps at the moment, with most of the group returning from last season while also adding Yariel Rodríguez into the mix amongst other internal candidates such as Yosver Zulueta, Hayden Juenger, Bowden Francis, Mitch White, Zach Pop, and Hagen Danner.
Pearson’s Minor League option is expiring this season, thus if it is exercised this year, he will need a space on the roster for the upcoming season and beyond, or be designated for assignment and maybe moved or exposed to the waiver wire. In addition, he recently completed his first year of arbitration ($800,000), and he won’t be qualified as a free agent until after the 2026 season.
Future-wise, Pearson’s path to the Toronto Blue Jays big league club appears hazy at best. Though, particularly with his leadership, he has occasionally displayed moments of brilliance, he has also demonstrated what can happen when things go wrong. Pearson’s duty appears to be working out of the bullpen, at least for the time being. However, with internal competition and few bullpen places, the right-hander will probably start the season in Buffalo again, waiting for an opportunity, unless an injury strikes a number of teammates.
What made Nate Pearson moveable for the Jays.
However, if a player and the team would benefit from a change of environment, the Blue Jays might try to trade their previous top prospect. With a new team willing to take a chance, Pearson has a chance to start anew, and the Jays can bolster their roster in an effort to make another postseason run with their present core.
Although the team may use Pearson as part of a trade package to increase value, he does have some trade potential on his own because he has three more seasons of contract control through arbitration and the raw ability to be a great pitcher. Toronto might get the much-needed outfield/DH bat if they put him with someone like Santiago Espinal, who the Jays could transfer as well given their depth in utility players following the signing of Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I don’t see why the Blue Jays would pass up a chance to make a trade of that kind if one does arise.
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