Nate Pearson #61

Graduated from Bishop McLaughlin High School (Spring Hill, Fla.)...did not pitch his junior season due to elbow surgery...returned to the mound as a senior and posted a 0.91 ERA with 117 strikeouts while also batting .315 with nine homers en route to being named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 3A Player of the Year...Began his collegiate career at Florida International University and posted a 2.70 ERA in 19 appearances (one start)...transferred to College of Central Florida and was named the 2017 National Junior College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year after going 5-2 with a 1.56 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 13 starts...Was selected by the Blue Jays with the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft...headed into the 2020 season, he was ranked as the Blue Jays' top prospect and the No. 7 overall prospect in baseball by Baseball America, as well as the top right-handed pitching prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline...After a dominant pro debut in 2017, Pearson tossed just 1.2 innings in 2018 prior to being struck by a line drive on his pitching arm in his season debut, causing a non-displaced fractured ulna in his right forearm...he rehabbed the injury at the Blue Jays' Spring Training complex in Dunedin, Fla., located approximately 10 miles from where he grew up and his family still lived in Oldsmar, Fla...Pearson was able to live with his family throughout the rehab process and credited them as a support group for helping him stay focused...Cited the Astros' confidence in him as a potential starter as a reason for signing with the club this offseason...once regarded as one of the game's top starting pitching prospects, Pearson has pitched almost entirely in relief since 2021, with his last start (not as an opener) coincidentally coming against the Astros on May 9, 2021 at Daikin Park...Pearson has used his 6-foot-6 frame to help produce triple digit fastballs throughout his career...entering the 2026 season, he's thrown 94 pitches that were at least 100 mph, including five during the 2025 season...in 2020, his last season working as a starter, he averaged 96.3 mph with his fastball, ranking in the 89th percentile among all Major League pitchers...Signed a one-year Major League deal with the Astros on Oct. 20, 2025...has four years and five days of Major League service time headed into this season.

2025

Spent the majority of his season with Triple-A Iowa in the Cubs organization, while also making 11 relief appearances at the Major League level with the Cubs...Posted a 9.20 ERA (15 ER/14.2 IP) in his 11 Major League appearances...made the Cubs Opening Day roster as part of three stints with the big league club...was his second career Opening Day roster (also: 2024 with the Blue Jays)...Went 3-2 with a 2.22 ERA (11 ER/44.2 IP), a .175 opponent average, a 1.14 WHIP and 11.5 SO/9 IP through 38 games (one start) with Triple A Iowa...Made his season debut on March 29 vs. the Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome as part of the Tokyo Series (one IP, one H, one R/ER, zero BB, two SO)...Was released by the Cubs on Sept. 21 after being designated for assignment...signed by the Astros to a Major League contract on Oct. 17.

2024

Nate split the 2024 season between Toronto and Chicago, going a combined 2-2 with a 4.48 ERA (33 ER/66.1 IP) and two saves in a career-high 60 games (one start)...Began his season with Toronto, pitching to a 5.63 ERA (25 ER/40.0 IP) and 51 strikeouts in 41 games in relief...His average fastball velocity (97.7 mph) ranked in the 96th percentile in the Major Leagues...Posted an 11.47 SO/9.0 IP ratio with Toronto, which ranked 12th among A.L. relievers (min. 40 G) through July 27...Began the season by holding opponents scoreless in 10 of his first 11 outings through April 29 (1.80 ERA), including a six-game, 6.1-IP scoreless streak from March 28-April 14...Recorded his first save of the season April 29 vs. Kansas City (0 ER/1.0 IP)...Pitched to a 1.88 ERA (3 ER/14.1 IP) in 13 games from May 22-June 22, the 11th-lowest ERA in the A.L. (min. 13 G) during the stretch...Was traded to Chicago July 27 for outfielder Yohendrick Piñango and infielder Josh Rivera...Struck out at least one batter in nine-straight appearances to begin his Cubs career from July 29-Aug. 30, totaling 15 strikeouts during the span...From July 29-Sept. 10, went 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA (4 ER/19.1 IP) in 12 games...Pitched the eighth inning of Chicago's combined no-hitter Sept. 4 vs. Pittsburgh.

2023

Held opponents to a .153 AVG at home, trailing only Alex Lange (.138) for the best mark in the AL (min. 25.0 IP)... On April 25 vs. CWS, made his first MLB appearance since Oct. 3, 2021 vs. BAL...Tossed a scoreless 8th inning (1.0 IP, HB, K)... Got the final four outs in a 5-4 win during the back half of a doubleheader on July 6 at CWS for his first career save... Put together a career-best 10.2 scoreless innings streak from June 24-July 18... Appeared in 20 games for the Bisons, posting a 1.74 ERA (4 ER/20.2 IP) with 14 hits, 15 walks and 34 strikeouts for a 1.40 WHIP and a .184 opponents’ average.

2022

Made two appearances in Spring Training before he was sidelined through the start of the regular season with mononucleosis... Sustained a right lat strain while building back up in June and then spent time later in the summer rehabbing with Single-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo... Pitched in 12 games for the Tigres Del Licey of the Dominican Winter League, fanning 16 batters without allowing an earned run over 12.0 innings (5H, 4BB, .128 AVG).

2021

Entered the season as Toronto’s top-rated prospect by MLB and Baseball America...Named top RHP prospect by MLB Pipeline... Made 12 appearances for Triple-A Buffalo (six starts), going 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA and a .189 AVG (30.2 IP, 21H, 15ER, 4HR, 13BB, 44K)... Placed on injured list from March 29-April 28 with a right adductor strain...Also landed on the Minor League IL from June 22-Aug. 13... Called up from Triple-A Buffalo on May 9 and lasted 2.1 innings in his only MLB start of the season (fifth career start) at HOU (4H, 3ER, 5BB, 0K)... Recalled again from Buffalo on Sept. 1 and made 11 relief appearances to close out the year... Went 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA (4 ER/12.2 IP), seven walks, and 20 strikeouts for a 1.34 WHIP out of the bullpen... Earned his second career win Sept. 11 at BAL with 2.0 scoreless frames (H, 2BB, 2K)... Fanned four batters, his personal high as a reliever, over 2.0 hitless innings Sept. 30 vs. NYY... Threw a 101.8 MPH fastball on Sept. 30 vs. NYY, the fastest ever tracked (since 2008) by a Blue Jays pitcher, breaking his own 101.5 MPH record from Sept. 25, 2020.

2020

Entered the season as Toronto’s top-rated prospect by MLB and Baseball America (7th overall by BA; 8th overall by MLB)...Made his MLB Debut on July 29 at WAS...Threw 5.0 scoreless innings, taking a no-decision as the Jays were shutout, 4-0, by Max Scherzer and the Nationals...Allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five batters...Punched out the 1st batter he faced (Trea Turner), becoming the 7th pitcher in team history to debut as a starter and strike out the 1st batter faced (last: Matt Boyd on June 27, 2015 vs. TEX)...Became the 3rd pitcher in Blue Jays history to throw 5+ scoreless innings in an MLB debut, joining Mauro Gozzo (Aug. 8, 1989 vs. TEX) and Trent Thornton (March 31, 2019 vs. DET)... Also became the 49th player in team history to make his MLB debut as a starting pitcher, following up Thomas Hatch from three days earlier (July 26 at TB)...Earned a no-decision on Aug. 6 at ATL where he allowed three runs over 5.0 frames (2H, 3BB, 5K)...Made his 1st start at home on Aug. 12 vs. MIA...Lasted 2.1 frames while allowing seven runs (four earned) with five hits, four walks and one strikeout...Walked four batters for the 1st time in his professional career...Two days before his 24th birthday, on Aug. 18 at BAL, made his 5th start and threw 4.0+ frames while allowing a season high five earned runs and three home runs (3BB, 3K)...Placed on the injured list from Aug. 19-Sept. 23 with right elbow tightness...Pitched in relief for the 1st time on Sept. 25 vs. BAL...Earned his 1st career win with 1.2 scoreless innings (1H, 1BB, 2K)... Struck out the 1st batter he faced (Austin Hays) with a 101.5 MPH fastball, the fastest pitch ever recorded by a Blue Jay (tracking began in 2008), surpassing the 101.2 MPH pitch by Brandon Morrow on Sept. 10, 2014 vs. CHC...Made his postseason debut in Game 2 of the ALWC on Sept. 30 at TB...Fired 2.0 frames in relief and retired all six batters faced...Fanned five hitters, the most by a reliever making his 1st career postseason appearance in club history...Became the 5th rookie all-time to strike out the first three batters faced in a postseason career, joining John Candelaria (4 in 1975) Alan Hembree (3 in 1995), Dave Riske (3 in 2001) and Craig Kimbrel (3 in 2010).