Even under these bizarre circumstances, Nate Pearson has earned his spot in the BlueJays' rotation, building off an impressive showing at the first spring training, and looking sharp again throughout summer camp in Toronto, writes ShiDavidi.
“That wouldn’t be fair to the kid,” manager Charlie Montoyo said before watching the top pitching prospect allow four runs – all in the first inning – on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 3.2 innings in the club’s first game versus a rival club since March 12.
Even under these bizarre circumstances, Pearson has earned it, building off an impressive showing at the first spring training during the pandemic shutdown, and looking sharp again throughout summer camp in Toronto with his elite, nearly unrivalled arsenal. Against the Red Sox, he generated eight swinging strikes on 63 pitches – three on fastballs, three on sliders, two on changeups – sitting at 95.1 m.p.h. while topping out at 98.1.
“I felt like I put myself in the best position I can to make this team,” said Pearson. “Whether they say I made it or not, I’m still going to keep working as hard as I normally do and I know my time will come at some point this year. Just got to roll with the punches and keep getting back on the horse. I didn’t have the best outing today. It’s tough being my last spring training outing, but I showed them what I can do throughout all whole spring training, that’s what I have to roll with.
Further, there’s a danger in the message holding back such an important potential weapon would send to a young team whose uber-confidence was continually cited by president and CEO Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins as reasons why signing ace Hyun-Jin Ryu made sense. There is nothing the Blue Jays can create this season to replicate that game experience, which is why a demotion later this week would be a blatant manipulation of service time.
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