The Blue Jays recalled Pearson from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.
As anticipated, the flamethrowing right-hander will move into the Toronto bullpen on the heels of a spectacular start to the season at Buffalo, with whom he posted a 2.16 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 8.1 innings. Though he has prior starting experience, Pearson wasn't asked to record more than four outs in any of his eight appearances with Buffalo, so he could be deployed as more of a traditional reliever than a multi-inning option out of the Blue Jays bullpen. If he can continue make bats miss at a prolific clip while keeping his walks in check, Pearson could quickly move into a high-leverage role in front of closer Jordan Romano.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Call-up imminent
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Pearson is set to join the Blue Jays in Toronto on Monday and could be recalled from Triple-A Buffalo ahead of the big club's series opener versus the White Sox, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
The Blue Jays appear to have abandoned developing Pearson as a starter due to injuries having cost him extensive time in each of the previous three seasons, but the power right-hander still possesses the type of premium velocity that could make him a major weapon near the back end of the bullpen. He's flashed that potential thus far at Buffalo, pitching to a 2.16 ERA and 16:5 K:BB across 8.1 innings over his eight appearances. Once he's formally activated, Pearson could start out in a lower-leverage role out of the bullpen, but it's not difficult to envision him emerging as one of the top setup men for closer Jordan Romano if he can stay healthy and keep his free passes in check.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Optioned to Triple-A
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Pearson was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo by the Blue Jays on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Pearson will begin the season in Triple-A after forging a 3.24 ERA over six Grapefruit League appearances with a 13:5 K:BB and 1.56 WHIP. The talented right-hander will head to Buffalo as a relief option, and if he pitches well in that role he could help the Toronto bullpen in the early part of the season.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Velocity still there
Rotowire
Pearson topped out at 100.8 miles per hour with his fastball during his appearance in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Mike Wilner of The Toronto Star reports.
The line in the box score was less impressive, as the right-hander allowed one run on two hits, two walks and a wild pitch over one inning, but Pearson struck out the side while tossing 18 of 31 pitches for strikes. The one-time top prospect has had his development derailed by multiple injuries and the Blue Jays might have given up on the idea of him holding up under a starter's workload, but Pearson still has a chance to make an impact in the majors as a high-leverage reliever if he can stay healthy in 2023.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Pitching coach impressed
Rotowire
Pearson "looks really comfortable in his own skin right now" and "his stuff is outstanding," Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker told Keegan Matheson of MLB.com on Thursday.
Pearson's career has been sidetracked by injury, most recently with his 2022 season being wiped out by mononucleosis and a lat strain. He's healthy now, though, and while his days of starting might be over, he has the potential to be a lockdown reliever for the Jays.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Activated and optioned
Rotowire
The Blue Jays reinstated Pearson (lat) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
Since Buffalo's season has already ended, Pearson won't report to the Triple-A affiliate and will instead stick around at the Blue Jays' spring facility in Florida, where he'll likely continue to stay sharp in case Toronto requires an extra bullpen arm during its upcoming postseason run, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca. Pearson never made any appearances at the big-league level in 2022 after opening the campaign on the shelf while recovering from mononucleosis before he suffered a lat strain in June during his rehab assignment.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Building up to multiple innings
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Interim manager John Schneider said Thursday that Pearson (lat) is building up to cover multiple innings before being activated from the injured list, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Pearson has been on the injured list for the entire 2022 campaign, initially due to a bout with mononucleosis and currently due to a lat strain. He started a rehab assignment in early September and pitched 1.1 frames in his last outing Wednesday with Triple-A Buffalo, and he'll continue building up his workload. It's unclear if Pearson will be ready to join the active roster before the end of the regular season.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Starting rehab stint
Rotowire
Pearson (lat) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Single-A Dunedin, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
Pearson progressed to facing live batters earlier this week and has now been cleared for game action in the minors. The 26-year-old should make an appearance or two for Dunedin before moving the rehab assignment up to Triple-A Buffalo.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Set to throw live BP
Rotowire
Pearson (lat) will throw live batting practice Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Pearson has been throwing bullpens over the last two weeks, and he'll take another step in his recovery process this week by facing live hitters. If he feels good following Wednesday's throwing session, general manager Ross Atkins hopes that Pearson will be able to begin a rehab assignment shortly after.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Another bullpen on tap
Rotowire
Pearson (lat) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Pearson was sidelined for the start of the season after coming down with mononucleosis, and he suffered a lat strain in late June after starting a rehab assignment in the minors. The 26-year-old resumed mound work earlier in August, and the next step in his rehab will be facing live hitters.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Slated to throw bullpen
Rotowire
Pearson (lat) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Pearson increased his throwing distance last week and has now been cleared to throw off a mound for the first time since he sustained his lat injury in June. The right-hander will likely ramp up his intensity over the next few weeks and will presumably require a rehab assignment prior to rejoining the Blue Jays.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Increases throwing distance
Rotowire
Pearson (lat) progressed to throwing from 150 feet Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The 25-year-old resumed a throwing program in July and continues to build up his arm strength with long toss. Pearson could soon be cleared to begin mound work, and he'll likely need a couple weeks to ramp up before potentially embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Now throwing from 120 feet
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Pearson (lat) is now throwing from a distance up to 120 feet, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Pearson is still not throwing off a mound, but he continues to make progress in his recovery and could be ready to throw a bullpen session in the near future.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Nearing mound work
Rotowire
Pearson (lat) recently resumed a throwing program at the Blue Jays' spring training complex in Florida and is "somewhat close" to throwing bullpen sessions, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
Pearson had been shut down for the past three weeks before he starting throwing again after he demonstrated enough healing from his strained right lat. Because Pearson has been on the injured list all season due to a prolonged bout with mononucleosis before suffering the lat strain in late June, the Blue Jays may not be inclined to have him build up for starting duty. If he ends up returning from the 60-day IL as a reliever, Pearson would still likely need a few weeks to complete his throwing progression and a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Shut down through July
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The Blue Jays announced Tuesday that Pearson (lat) will be shut down for 3-to-4 weeks before he's re-evaluated, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
If Pearson's strained right lat has healed as well as the Blue Jays hope once he's re-evaluated, he'll be cleared to begin a throwing program. Even if Pearson remains free of setbacks and if the Blue Jays choose to have him prepare for a relief role upon his return, he'll still likely need at least an additional two weeks after being re-evaluated before being ready for game action. With that in mind, Pearson probably shouldn't be expected to come off the 60-day injured list until around the middle of August at the soonest, and a September return is likely more realistic.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Diagnosed with lat strain
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Pearson was diagnosed with a lat strain Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Pearson has had brutal luck with injuries and illnesses, throwing just 33 major-league innings since his debut at the start of the 2020 season. He'd been building up in Triple-A Buffalo since late June after missing the start of the season due to mononucleosis, but he only made it through four appearances before suffering yet another setback. The Blue Jays have yet to provide a timeline for his return.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Exits with shoulder discomfort
Rotowire
Pearson (illness) was removed from Sunday's rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo due to right shoulder discomfort, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
Pearson threw only two pitches during Sunday's outing before leaving with the training staff, and the severity of the issue remains unclear. The 25-year-old will continue to be evaluated over the next couple days, but his return timeline will be pushed back if he's forced to be shut down from throwing for any period of time.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Rehab outing cut short
Rotowire
Pearson (illness) was removed from Sunday's rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo due to an apparent injury, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
It was Pearson's fifth rehab outing after a bout of mononucleosis in the spring delayed his availability, but he threw only two pitches Sunday before leaving the field with the training staff. The right-hander's career has been marred by injuries, and he's now potentially dealing with another issue, which could further push back his return timeline.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Impresses during rehab appearance
Rotowire
Pearson (illness) made another rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Pearson allowed a run on two hits and no walks while striking out four in two relief innings during Tuesday's outing. Manager Charlie Montoyo was pleased with the 25-year-old's results, as he reached 98-99 mph while tossing two innings for a third consecutive outing. Montoyo is hopeful that Pearson will be able to build up to three innings at some point and have less recovery time between his rehab appearances. The right-hander isn't guaranteed a spot on the major-league roster once he's deemed fully healthy, but the team views him as a multi-inning relief option.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Transferred to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Pearson (illness) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Monday.
The transaction has no bearing on Pearson's return timeline, as he's been out since the start of the season after a bout of mononucleosis interrupted his spring training and is already eligible to return from any injured list. He's made a pair of rehab appearances but may need a handful more before he's activated from the injured list.
