Nate Pearson #24

Nathan Alexander Pearson...Attended Florida International for a year before transferring to Central Florida Community College in Ocala, FL...Went 5-2 with a 1.56 ERA in his 13 starts for Patriots in 2017 and struck out 118 batters over 81.0 innings (23 walks)...Ranked by Baseball America as Toronto’s 4th-best prospect after the 2017 season (91st overall), 6th after 2018 (70th overall) and then was ranked as the club’s top prospect at the end of 2019..Ranked by MLB as Toronto’s No. 1 prospect heading into 2020...Listed as Baseball America’s 7th-best overall prospect...Ranked 14th overall and the Blue Jays’ No. 1 by Baseball America heading into 2021...Named No. 1 RHP prospect by MLB Pipeline, as well as 10th overall and Toronto’s No.1...Spends his leisure time golfing, jet skiing and watching movies.

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).