The Toronto Blue Jays selected pitcher Nate Pearson out of Central Florida Community College as the 28th player in the 2017 amateur draft.
He began his undergraduate career at Florida International University in 2016, but after his first year, he switched to a junior college to earn an opportunity to pitch as a starter.
He had flashed 100 mph on the radar gun by draft time, indicating that he was a clear first-round pick.
The pick was compensation from the Cleveland Indians for signing DH/1B Edwin Encarnacion as a free agent, and he was the Blue Jays’ second selection in the draft, following Logan Warmoth with choice #22.
He had screws implanted in his elbow in high school, so his health was a concern.
In 2017, he made eight starts in the Blue Jays’ system for two separate organizations, pitching only 20 innings due to the Jays’ desire to limit his innings.
During his brief tenure on the mound, he was lights out, with an ERA of 0.90 and a 26/5 K/W ratio.
In 2018, he only made one appearance with the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays after being struck in the forearm by a batted ball and breaking a bone.
He was able to pitch in the Arizona Fall League after recovering. The Blue Jays were torn in spring training in 2019 between the reality that his stuff was virtually major league level, and that he would have to be handled with caution due to his injury history.
After starting the season at Dunedin, he advanced to AAA and posted impressive figures, including a 5-4 record with a 2.30 ERA in 25 starts and 119 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings.
He was the organization’s consensus #1 pitching prospect, and he played in the 2019 Futures Game.
How Old Is Nate Pearson?
Nate Pearson is 25 years old. He was born on August 20, 1996.