Well, that didn’t last long….
Nate Pearson – Toronto Blue Jays – 2018 FSL Debut – May 7, 2018: https://t.co/BMJ7eEzQEV via @YouTube
— Jason Woodell (@JasonAtTheGame) May 8, 2018
Held back for a month because of an oblique issue, the top pitching prospect had one Extended start under his belt before pitching in a game for the Blue Jays High A Florida State League affiliate Dunedin last night.
Pearson showed some obvious signs of rust, according to observers in attendance. His customary velo (sat 94-96 with his fastball, touched 99), but his release point was inconsistent. He gave up a two-run Oppo HR in the 1st, but appeared to be settling down a bit in the 2nd. Pearson gave up an infield single on a sawoff, then fanned a pair of hitters after falling behind. He fell behind 2-0 to the next hitter, then was walloped with that line drive on the arm after firing a 95 pitch down the heart of the plate. One eyewitness said there were two distinct cracks – one off the bat, the other off of Pearson’s arm.
Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins this morning said that x-rays revealed Pearson has a non-displaced fracture of the ulna, the long bone that runs from the elbow to the pinky. The best case recovery time will be about six weeks, with rehab after that. A late August comeback might not be out of the question, but his 2018 is pretty much a write off.
