Nate Pearson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #9 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Once considered the top prospect in the Blue Jays organization--he ranked No. 1 heading into 2020--Pearson has dealt with a litany of injuries in recent years that have delayed his path to getting established in the major leagues. A line drive fractured his right forearm in 2019. Then his MLB debut season was interrupted by a flexor strain in his elbow in 2020, and then he missed most of 2021 with groin injuries and a sports hernia. As a result, he has pitched a total of 61 innings the past two seasons. Expected to contribute to the Blue Jays in 2022, Pearson instead missed most of the season with a lat strain and remained in the Triple-A Buffalo bullpen after he returned from the injured list in September.
  
  Scouting Report: Pearson is physically imposing at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds with broad shoulders and an extra-large build. His large frame and natural strength translate to easy 99-104 mph fastballs, and he pairs his fastball with an above-average, hard slider in the upper 80s with late horizontal bite. He also has an average power curveball in the mid 80s with 11-to-5 shape and two-plane break and a firm changeup that is a fringe-average pitch. His changeup used to be a bigger part of his arsenal but has backed up in recent years. Pearson has increasingly pitched in relief due to his injuries and fringy control and is likely to remain in the bullpen. He primarily focuses on his fastball and slider as a reliever, while mixing in an occasional curveball against lefthanded hitters.
  
  The Future: At 26 years old and with a long list of injuries, Pearson appears destined for a bullpen role. His raw stuff could allow him to flourish as a high-leverage reliever if he can stay healthy. Pearson pitched for Licey of the Dominican League in the offseason as he prepared for 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #2 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Mostly a reliever at Florida International, Pearson became a starter when he transferred to the JC of Central Florida in 2017 and performed well enough to become a first-round pick. Since then, Pearson has teased the Blue Jays with tantalizing upside but also health and command problems. After groin injuries hampered him in spring training in 2021, he struggled with his mechanics through a May 9 start in which he walked five in 2.1 innings. He returned to Triple-A and missed time with a sports hernia, but he came back to the majors in September and pitched exclusively out of the bullpen, striking out 20 and walking seven in 12.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Pearson possesses explosive stuff with a fastball that sits 96-100 mph and touches 102. He complements his fastball with a hard slider in the mid-to-upper 80s that is a plus pitch at times. Pearson has a curveball and changeup that can both be average pitches, but he rarely threw them as a reliever in the majors. Pearson has yet to break through partly because of health but also because he has trouble repeating his delivery, which leads to poor command. The result has been too many walks and hitters geared up for Pearson’s fastball because he’s too often behind in the count.
  
  The Future: Pearson has never pitched more than 101.1 innings in a season, so durability concerns remain about whether he can handle a starter’s workload. He has the stuff to develop into a high-end starter if he can sync up his mechanics, but the Blue Jays may opt to develop him into a high-leverage reliever.
  
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #2 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 80. Curveball: 50. Slider: 70. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.
  Track Record: Pearson mostly pitched as a reliever when he was a freshman at Florida International. He transferred to the JC of Central Florida for 2017 and his stock soared as a starter. He was drafted 28th overall, signed for $2,452,900 and quickly looked like a steal. His 2018 season ended early—he didn’t pitch until May 7, then threw 1.2 innings before a line drive fractured his right forearm and ended his season—but he returned with an outstanding 2019 that put him in the conversation for the top pitching prospect in baseball. Pearson made his major league debut in 2020 and made four starts before going on the injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. He returned in time to make one relief appearance at the end of the season and made the Blue Jays postseason roster. In his lone playoff appearance, he struck out five of six batters he faced over two perfect innings of relief. A strained groin in 2021 spring training adds another injury to the list for Pearson, who will have his first start moved back to begin the year.

  Scouting Report: Pearson has a huge frame with a power fastball to match. He sits 94-98 mph, touched 101 in the majors and has previously been as high as 104, showing the ability to get empty swings when he elevates. Pearson significantly improved his mid-80s slider during his time in the minors and saw it carry over to the majors. It’s a plus pitch that flashes as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, with late bite and two-plane depth to dive underneath barrels. Pearson shows the feel to add and subtract from his slider, landing it in the strike zone or burying it for a chase pitch when necessary. Pearson leaned heavily on his fastball/slider combination in 2020. When he keeps his changeup down, it shows flashes of being a solid-average pitch at 86-89 mph. He didn’t throw it much and lacked a consistent feel for it in the big leagues, where it played below-average. He sprinkles in an occasional 75-79 mph curveball, usually early in the count, showing better control of his curveball than he does with his changeup. Pearson showed electric stuff but got into trouble in the majors because of his control. That hasn’t been an issue for Pearson in the past, and his athletic, efficient delivery suggests he should be able to throw more strikes going forward. Pearson has plenty of starter traits, but durability is still a question. His 101.2 innings in 2019 were a career-high, so his 2020 elbow injury and the fact that he throws so hard gives some scouts pause about his ability to handle a starter’s workload.
  
  The Future: If Pearson shows he can hold up as a starter and throw strikes like he did in the minor leagues, he has the stuff to develop into a true No. 1 starter. He should be an integral part of Toronto’s rotation in 2021.

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #1 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Pearson pitched mostly out of the bullpen for Florida International as a freshman before transferring to the JC of Central Florida in 2017. While there, his stock climbed. The Blue Jays drafted him 28th overall that year and signed him for $2,452,900. In 2018, a back injury prevented Pearson from pitching until May 7. He returned, threw 1.2 innings, then didn't pitch again during the regular season when a line drive fractured his forearm, though he came back for the Arizona Fall League. In 2019, Pearson made a case as the best pitching prospect in the minors as he rose three levels to finish the year in Triple-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Pearson has an extra-large frame and an elite fastball. He sits in the upper 90s, regularly touches triple digits and has climbed as high as 104 mph in the AFL in 2018. His fastball rides up and explodes with late life in the zone. One of the biggest leaps forward for Pearson came with his slider. It was a slurvy, low-80s pitch in college that he sharpened after his first year. Now it's a legitimate out pitch, earning plus or better grades and flashing plus-plus potential with power and late tilt. Pearson hasn't needed to use his changeup much, but it gives him a third legitimate weapon as a solid-average pitch, while his curveball is more of a fringy pitch he mixes in every once in a while. Pearson fills the strike zone and has an athletic, efficient delivery that he repeats well. That all points to a durable starter, but questions remain. His 101.2 innings were a career high, though he hasn't missed time due to operations or issues with his throwing arm. However, the Blue Jays kept Pearson on a restrictive workload. He alternated between starts of five and two innings by design for most of his Double-A time, though he threw 90-plus pitches in five of his final seven starts, including 100-plus pitches in two of them. The fact that Pearson throws with so much velocity on every fastball also gives some scouts concerns about whether that's a durability risk.
  
  THE FUTURE: If Pearson shows he can handle a starter's workload, he can be a frontline arm with potential to be a No. 1 or 2 starter. He's probably headed back to Triple-A to begin 2020, but he's one of the Blue Jays' five best starting pitchers right now and should be in Toronto by midseason.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #6 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Blue Jays used the second of their two first-round picks in 2017 to select Pearson, who quickly looked like a steal after dominating the short-season Northwest League while touching triple digits. He looked poised for a breakthrough in 2018, but a back injury prevented him from pitching until May 7, when he threw 1.2 innings before a line drive fractured his right forearm and ended his season.
  
  Scouting Report: As a college starter, Pearson sat 92-94 mph and touched 98 mph regularly. With the Blue Jays, he sits in the mid- to upper 90s. He reaches 101 mph in short stints, though he has yet to have an outing of more than four innings to show he can hold velocity. He throws an explosive fastball with late life to get empty swings up and down the strike zone, with steep downhill angle from his 6-foot-6 frame. Since joining the Blue Jays, Pearson has added more power and sharpness to what was once a slurvy slider, cranking it up to the mid- to upper 80s with late tilt. His slider is still inconsistent but flashes above-average. He mixes in an average changeup with late fade.
  
  The Future: Pearson, who hit 100 mph in the Arizona Fall League, has the stuff to work as a mid-rotation starter if he proves he can handle a starter's workload.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #4 prospect in 2018
  After his freshman year at Florida International, Pearson transferred to the JC of Central Florida, where he elevated his stock to become the No. 28 overall pick in 2017 with a $2,452,900 bonus. The Blue Jays limited his workload after signing, but he blew away the competition when he was on the mound in the short-season Northwest League. Pearson gives hitters an uncomfortable at-bat. He attacks them with downhill angle from his 6-foot-6 frame and pitches with a lively, heavy fastball that parked at 92-94 mph and touched 98 regularly in his college starts. In short bursts with the Blue Jays, Pearson sat in the mid- to upper 90s and touched 101 mph, with the fastball life to get swings-and-misses up and down in the zone. His secondary stuff is inconsistent but shows the makings of effective offspeed weapons. His changeup is an average pitch with late fade. He added power to his slider in pro ball, which took the pitch from a slurvy low-80s offering to a sharper breaking ball. It now reaches the mid- to upper 80s with late tilt, though he's still learning to land it for a strike. He throws a curveball but it's behind his other pitches. Pearson should start 2018 at a Class A affiliate. If he can handle a starter's workload, he has a chance to develop into a mid-rotation arm.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #13 prospect in 2017 draft
  As a high school senior, Pearson received little interest from pro teams. He was a tall righthander whose fastball could reach 93, but he had no usable offspeed pitch. So he enrolled at Florida International, where he got stronger and got some experience, earning more than 30 innings that spring. Following his freshman year, Pearson transferred to the JC of Central Florida, where his stock took off. In a bullpen during the fall, Pearson's fastball touched 100, creating buzz throughout the amateur scouting community. In a starting role in the spring, Pearson pitched mostly at 93-94 and touched 97 in most starts. His fastball shows late running or sinking movement and he made tremendous growth with his command. His changeup now projects as a plus pitch, showing late fade when he locates it down in the zone. He throws both a slider and a curveball, and scouts see his slider as a more prominent part of his future. The pitch shows slurvy shape and sits in the low 80s. Pearson's athleticism and rapid growth could lead him to come off the board as high as the back of the first round. Scouts have compared him to Carl Pavano because of his size, athleticism and potent fastball-changeup combo.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #1 prospect in 2019
  Pearson helped answer concerns about his durability by tossing a career-high 101.2 innings this year, including 62.2 dominating frames with New Hampshire. As a Fisher Cat, Pearson threw five innings in one start followed by two innings in his next—the Blue Jays wanted to slowly build him up to a regular workload. Hitters never had an easy time with Pearson, and the righthander held opponents to a .186 average. Pearson attacks hitters with a fastball that is consistently in the upper 90s and tops out in triple-digits. He pairs his fastball with a plus slider that is both firm and has tilt. His third pitch is a changeup that still lags behind his other two offerings. His command has shown signs of being above-average, but his fastball command is still suspect on occasion. The righthander has front-of-the-rotation stuff. Some managers said they think he will have to work hard to stay on top of his body going forward.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Fall League #11 prospect in 2018
  The last time AFL observers were treated to such consistently high velocity was in 2011, when Aroldis Chapman was a member of the Phoenix Desert Dogs. Pearson regularly hit triple digits, with the highlight being the multiple 103-104 mph fastballs he threw during his one-inning appearance in the Fall Stars Game. His six AFL starts were split between three quality outings and three sub-par performances, but he finished strong by not giving up a run over his last nine innings.

  Pearson pitched in only one game during the regular season due to injury, so he certainly needed the work this fall. Toronto’s 2017 first-round pick has a massive 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame, and needs to smooth out a delivery that’s not real free and clean. While he got strikeouts with his mid-70s curveball, it’s still an inconsistent pitch. Pearson likely profiles better as a power reliever at the back end of the bullpen, but with velocity like this he’ll get plenty of time to develop control and harness his stuff.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #62 prospect in 2022
• Ranked Baseball America's #14 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #7 prospect in 2020
• Ranked Baseball America's #70 prospect in 2019
• Ranked Baseball America's #91 prospect in 2018

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Once considered the top prospect in the Blue Jays organization--he ranked No. 1 heading into 2020--Pearson has dealt with a litany of injuries in recent years that have delayed his path to getting established in the major leagues. A line drive fractured his right forearm in 2019. Then his MLB debut season was interrupted by a flexor strain in his elbow in 2020, and then he missed most of 2021 with groin injuries and a sports hernia. As a result, he has pitched a total of 61 innings the past two seasons. Expected to contribute to the Blue Jays in 2022, Pearson instead missed most of the season with a lat strain and remained in the Triple-A Buffalo bullpen after he returned from the injured list in September.
  
  Scouting Report: Pearson is physically imposing at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds with broad shoulders and an extra-large build. His large frame and natural strength translate to easy 99-104 mph fastballs, and he pairs his fastball with an above-average, hard slider in the upper 80s with late horizontal bite. He also has an average power curveball in the mid 80s with 11-to-5 shape and two-plane break and a firm changeup that is a fringe-average pitch. His changeup used to be a bigger part of his arsenal but has backed up in recent years. Pearson has increasingly pitched in relief due to his injuries and fringy control and is likely to remain in the bullpen. He primarily focuses on his fastball and slider as a reliever, while mixing in an occasional curveball against lefthanded hitters.
  
  The Future: At 26 years old and with a long list of injuries, Pearson appears destined for a bullpen role. His raw stuff could allow him to flourish as a high-leverage reliever if he can stay healthy. Pearson pitched for Licey of the Dominican League in the offseason as he prepared for 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Once considered the top prospect in the Blue Jays organization--he ranked No. 1 heading into 2020--Pearson has dealt with a litany of injuries in recent years that have delayed his path to getting established in the major leagues. A line drive fractured his right forearm in 2019. Then his MLB debut season was interrupted by a flexor strain in his elbow in 2020, and then he missed most of 2021 with groin injuries and a sports hernia. As a result, he has pitched a total of 61 innings the past two seasons. Expected to contribute to the Blue Jays in 2022, Pearson instead missed most of the season with a lat strain and remained in the Triple-A Buffalo bullpen after he returned from the injured list in September.
  
  Scouting Report: Pearson is physically imposing at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds with broad shoulders and an extra-large build. His large frame and natural strength translate to easy 99-104 mph fastballs, and he pairs his fastball with an above-average, hard slider in the upper 80s with late horizontal bite. He also has an average power curveball in the mid 80s with 11-to-5 shape and two-plane break and a firm changeup that is a fringe-average pitch. His changeup used to be a bigger part of his arsenal but has backed up in recent years. Pearson has increasingly pitched in relief due to his injuries and fringy control and is likely to remain in the bullpen. He primarily focuses on his fastball and slider as a reliever, while mixing in an occasional curveball against lefthanded hitters.
  
  The Future: At 26 years old and with a long list of injuries, Pearson appears destined for a bullpen role. His raw stuff could allow him to flourish as a high-leverage reliever if he can stay healthy. Pearson pitched for Licey of the Dominican League in the offseason as he prepared for 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Mostly a reliever at Florida International, Pearson became a starter when he transferred to the JC of Central Florida for 2017, elevating his stock to become a first-round pick. Since then, Pearson has teased the Blue Jays with tantalizing upside but a mix of health and command problems. After groin injuries hampered Pearson in spring training in 2021, he struggled with his mechanics through a May 9 start in Houston in which he walked five in 2.1 innings. He went back to Triple-A and missed time with a sports hernia, but he came back up to the big leagues in September and pitched exclusively out of the bullpen, striking out 20 and walking seven in 12.2 relief innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Pearson has exciting stuff, with a fastball that sits at 96-100 mph and touched 102 in 2021. He complements his fastball with a hard slider mostly in the mid to upper 80s that is a plus pitch at times. Pearson has a curveball and changeup that can both be average pitches, but he rarely threw them as a reliever in the big leagues. Pearson has yet to break through in part because of health but also because he has had trouble repeating his delivery, which has led to poor command. That has caused too many walks and hitters being able to tune up Pearson&#39&#39s fastball because he&#39&#39s too often behind in the count.
  
  The Future: Pearson is 25 and his 101.1 innings in 2019 are a career high, so durability concerns remain about whether he will be able to handle a starter&#39&#39s workload. If he can do that and is able to sync up his mechanics to improve his fastball command, the stuff is still there for Pearson to develop into a high-end starter, though the Blue Jays might opt to develop him into a high-leverage reliever.
  
  Scouting Grades:
  Fastball: 65. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 45.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Mostly a reliever at Florida International, Pearson became a starter when he transferred to the JC of Central Florida in 2017 and performed well enough to become a first-round pick. Since then, Pearson has teased the Blue Jays with tantalizing upside but also health and command problems. After groin injuries hampered him in spring training in 2021, he struggled with his mechanics through a May 9 start in which he walked five in 2.1 innings. He returned to Triple-A and missed time with a sports hernia, but he came back to the majors in September and pitched exclusively out of the bullpen, striking out 20 and walking seven in 12.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Pearson possesses explosive stuff with a fastball that sits 96-100 mph and touches 102. He complements his fastball with a hard slider in the mid-to-upper 80s that is a plus pitch at times. Pearson has a curveball and changeup that can both be average pitches, but he rarely threw them as a reliever in the majors. Pearson has yet to break through partly because of health but also because he has trouble repeating his delivery, which leads to poor command. The result has been too many walks and hitters geared up for Pearson’s fastball because he’s too often behind in the count.
  
  The Future: Pearson has never pitched more than 101.1 innings in a season, so durability concerns remain about whether he can handle a starter’s workload. He has the stuff to develop into a high-end starter if he can sync up his mechanics, but the Blue Jays may opt to develop him into a high-leverage reliever.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 80. Curveball: 50. Slider: 70. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.
  Track Record: Pearson mostly pitched as a reliever when he was a freshman at Florida International. He transferred to the JC of Central Florida for 2017 and his stock soared as a starter. He was drafted 28th overall, signed for $2,452,900 and quickly looked like a steal. His 2018 season ended early—he didn't pitch until May 7, then threw 1.2 innings before a line drive fractured his right forearm and ended his season—but he returned with an outstanding 2019 that put him in the conversation for the top pitching prospect in baseball. Pearson made his major league debut in 2020 and made four starts before going on the injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. He returned in time to make one relief appearance at the end of the season and made the Blue Jays postseason roster. In his lone playoff appearance, he struck out five of six batters he faced over two perfect innings of relief.

  Scouting Report: Pearson has a huge frame with a power fastball to match. He sits 94-98 mph, touched 101 in the majors and has previously been as high as 104, showing the ability to get empty swings when he elevates. Pearson significantly improved his mid-80s slider during his time in the minors and saw it carry over to the majors. It's a plus pitch that flashes as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, with late bite and two-plane depth to dive underneath barrels. Pearson shows the feel to add and subtract from his slider, landing it in the strike zone or burying it for a chase pitch when necessary. Pearson leaned heavily on his fastball/slider combination in 2020. When he keeps his changeup down, it shows flashes of being a solid-average pitch at 86-89 mph. He didn't throw it much and lacked a consistent feel for it in the big leagues, where it played below-average. He sprinkles in an occasional 75-79 mph curveball, usually early in the count, showing better control of his curveball than he does with his changeup. Pearson showed electric stuff but got into trouble in the majors because of his control. That hasn't been an issue for Pearson in the past, and his athletic, efficient delivery suggests he should be able to throw more strikes going forward. Pearson has plenty of starter traits, but durability is still a question. His 101.2 innings in 2019 were a career-high, so his 2020 elbow injury and the fact that he throws so hard gives some scouts pause about his ability to handle a starter's workload.
  
  The Future: If Pearson shows he can hold up as a starter and throw strikes like he did in the minor leagues, he has the stuff to develop into a true No. 1 starter. He should be an integral part of Toronto's rotation in 2021.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 80. Curveball: 50. Slider: 70. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.
  Track Record: Pearson mostly pitched as a reliever when he was a freshman at Florida International. He transferred to the JC of Central Florida for 2017 and his stock soared as a starter. He was drafted 28th overall, signed for $2,452,900 and quickly looked like a steal. His 2018 season ended early—he didn’t pitch until May 7, then threw 1.2 innings before a line drive fractured his right forearm and ended his season—but he returned with an outstanding 2019 that put him in the conversation for the top pitching prospect in baseball. Pearson made his major league debut in 2020 and made four starts before going on the injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. He returned in time to make one relief appearance at the end of the season and made the Blue Jays postseason roster. In his lone playoff appearance, he struck out five of six batters he faced over two perfect innings of relief.

  Scouting Report: Pearson has a huge frame with a power fastball to match. He sits 94-98 mph, touched 101 in the majors and has previously been as high as 104, showing the ability to get empty swings when he elevates. Pearson significantly improved his mid-80s slider during his time in the minors and saw it carry over to the majors. It’s a plus pitch that flashes as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, with late bite and two-plane depth to dive underneath barrels. Pearson shows the feel to add and subtract from his slider, landing it in the strike zone or burying it for a chase pitch when necessary. Pearson leaned heavily on his fastball/slider combination in 2020. When he keeps his changeup down, it shows flashes of being a solid-average pitch at 86-89 mph. He didn’t throw it much and lacked a consistent feel for it in the big leagues, where it played below-average. He sprinkles in an occasional 75-79 mph curveball, usually early in the count, showing better control of his curveball than he does with his changeup. Pearson showed electric stuff but got into trouble in the majors because of his control. That hasn’t been an issue for Pearson in the past, and his athletic, efficient delivery suggests he should be able to throw more strikes going forward. Pearson has plenty of starter traits, but durability is still a question. His 101.2 innings in 2019 were a career-high, so his 2020 elbow injury and the fact that he throws so hard gives some scouts pause about his ability to handle a starter’s workload.
  
  The Future: If Pearson shows he can hold up as a starter and throw strikes like he did in the minor leagues, he has the stuff to develop into a true No. 1 starter. He should be an integral part of Toronto’s rotation in 2021.

• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 80. Curveball: 50. Slider: 70. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.
  Track Record: Pearson mostly pitched as a reliever when he was a freshman at Florida International. He transferred to the JC of Central Florida for 2017 and his stock soared as a starter. He was drafted 28th overall, signed for $2,452,900 and quickly looked like a steal. His 2018 season ended early—he didn’t pitch until May 7, then threw 1.2 innings before a line drive fractured his right forearm and ended his season—but he returned with an outstanding 2019 that put him in the conversation for the top pitching prospect in baseball. Pearson made his major league debut in 2020 and made four starts before going on the injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. He returned in time to make one relief appearance at the end of the season and made the Blue Jays postseason roster. In his lone playoff appearance, he struck out five of six batters he faced over two perfect innings of relief. A strained groin in 2021 spring training adds another injury to the list for Pearson, who will have his first start moved back to begin the year.

  Scouting Report: Pearson has a huge frame with a power fastball to match. He sits 94-98 mph, touched 101 in the majors and has previously been as high as 104, showing the ability to get empty swings when he elevates. Pearson significantly improved his mid-80s slider during his time in the minors and saw it carry over to the majors. It’s a plus pitch that flashes as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, with late bite and two-plane depth to dive underneath barrels. Pearson shows the feel to add and subtract from his slider, landing it in the strike zone or burying it for a chase pitch when necessary. Pearson leaned heavily on his fastball/slider combination in 2020. When he keeps his changeup down, it shows flashes of being a solid-average pitch at 86-89 mph. He didn’t throw it much and lacked a consistent feel for it in the big leagues, where it played below-average. He sprinkles in an occasional 75-79 mph curveball, usually early in the count, showing better control of his curveball than he does with his changeup. Pearson showed electric stuff but got into trouble in the majors because of his control. That hasn’t been an issue for Pearson in the past, and his athletic, efficient delivery suggests he should be able to throw more strikes going forward. Pearson has plenty of starter traits, but durability is still a question. His 101.2 innings in 2019 were a career-high, so his 2020 elbow injury and the fact that he throws so hard gives some scouts pause about his ability to handle a starter’s workload.
  
  The Future: If Pearson shows he can hold up as a starter and throw strikes like he did in the minor leagues, he has the stuff to develop into a true No. 1 starter. He should be an integral part of Toronto’s rotation in 2021.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Pearson pitched mostly out of the bullpen for Florida International as a freshman before transferring to the JC of Central Florida in 2017. While there, his stock climbed. The Blue Jays drafted him 28th overall that year and signed him for $2,452,900. In 2018, a back injury prevented Pearson from pitching until May 7. He returned, threw 1.2 innings, then didn’t pitch again during the regular season when a line drive fractured his forearm, though he came back for the Arizona Fall League. In 2019, Pearson made a case as the best pitching prospect in the minors as he rose three levels to finish the year in Triple-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Pearson has an extra-large frame and an elite fastball. He sits in the upper 90s, regularly touches triple digits and has climbed as high as 104 mph in the AFL in 2018. His fastball rides up and explodes with late life in the zone. One of the biggest leaps forward for Pearson came with his slider. It was a slurvy, low-80s pitch in college that he sharpened after his first year. Now it’s a legitimate out pitch, earning plus or better grades and flashing plus-plus potential with power and late tilt. Pearson hasn’t needed to use his changeup much, but it gives him a third legitimate weapon as a solid-average pitch, while his curveball is more of a fringy pitch he mixes in every once in a while. Pearson fills the strike zone and has an athletic, efficient delivery that he repeats well. That all points to a durable starter, but questions remain. His 101.2 innings were a career high, though he hasn’t missed time due to operations or issues with his throwing arm. However, the Blue Jays kept Pearson on a restrictive workload. He alternated between starts of five and two innings by design for most of his Double-A time, though he threw 90-plus pitches in five of his final seven starts, including 100-plus pitches in two of them. The fact that Pearson throws with so much velocity on every fastball also gives some scouts concerns about whether that’s a durability risk.
  
  THE FUTURE: If Pearson shows he can handle a starter’s workload, he can be a frontline arm with potential to be a No. 1 or 2 starter. He’s probably headed back to Triple-A to begin 2020, but he’s one of the Blue Jays’ five best starting pitchers right now and should be in Toronto by midseason. SCOUTING GRADES FB: 80. SL: 60. CHG: 55. CB: 45. CTL: 55. BA GRADE 70 Risk: Medium
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Pearson pitched mostly out of the bullpen for Florida International as a freshman before transferring to the JC of Central Florida in 2017. While there, his stock climbed. The Blue Jays drafted him 28th overall that year and signed him for $2,452,900. In 2018, a back injury prevented Pearson from pitching until May 7. He returned, threw 1.2 innings, then didn't pitch again during the regular season when a line drive fractured his forearm, though he came back for the Arizona Fall League. In 2019, Pearson made a case as the best pitching prospect in the minors as he rose three levels to finish the year in Triple-A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Pearson has an extra-large frame and an elite fastball. He sits in the upper 90s, regularly touches triple digits and has climbed as high as 104 mph in the AFL in 2018. His fastball rides up and explodes with late life in the zone. One of the biggest leaps forward for Pearson came with his slider. It was a slurvy, low-80s pitch in college that he sharpened after his first year. Now it's a legitimate out pitch, earning plus or better grades and flashing plus-plus potential with power and late tilt. Pearson hasn't needed to use his changeup much, but it gives him a third legitimate weapon as a solid-average pitch, while his curveball is more of a fringy pitch he mixes in every once in a while. Pearson fills the strike zone and has an athletic, efficient delivery that he repeats well. That all points to a durable starter, but questions remain. His 101.2 innings were a career high, though he hasn't missed time due to operations or issues with his throwing arm. However, the Blue Jays kept Pearson on a restrictive workload. He alternated between starts of five and two innings by design for most of his Double-A time, though he threw 90-plus pitches in five of his final seven starts, including 100-plus pitches in two of them. The fact that Pearson throws with so much velocity on every fastball also gives some scouts concerns about whether that's a durability risk.
  
  THE FUTURE: If Pearson shows he can handle a starter's workload, he can be a frontline arm with potential to be a No. 1 or 2 starter. He's probably headed back to Triple-A to begin 2020, but he's one of the Blue Jays' five best starting pitchers right now and should be in Toronto by midseason.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Pearson helped answer concerns about his durability by tossing a career-high 101.2 innings this year, including 62.2 dominating frames with New Hampshire. As a Fisher Cat, Pearson threw five innings in one start followed by two innings in his next—the Blue Jays wanted to slowly build him up to a regular workload. Hitters never had an easy time with Pearson, and the righthander held opponents to a .186 average. Pearson attacks hitters with a fastball that is consistently in the upper 90s and tops out in triple-digits. He pairs his fastball with a plus slider that is both firm and has tilt. His third pitch is a changeup that still lags behind his other two offerings. His command has shown signs of being above-average, but his fastball command is still suspect on occasion. The righthander has front-of-the-rotation stuff. Some managers said they think he will have to work hard to stay on top of his body going forward.
• August, 2018 Scouting Report
  The last time AFL observers were treated to such consistently high velocity was in 2011, when Aroldis Chapman was a member of the Phoenix Desert Dogs. Pearson regularly hit triple digits, with the highlight being the multiple 103-104 mph fastballs he threw during his one-inning appearance in the Fall Stars Game. His six AFL starts were split between three quality outings and three sub-par performances, but he finished strong by not giving up a run over his last nine innings.

  Pearson pitched in only one game during the regular season due to injury, so he certainly needed the work this fall. Toronto’s 2017 first-round pick has a massive 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame, and needs to smooth out a delivery that’s not real free and clean. While he got strikeouts with his mid-70s curveball, it’s still an inconsistent pitch. Pearson likely profiles better as a power reliever at the back end of the bullpen, but with velocity like this he’ll get plenty of time to develop control and harness his stuff.

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  The Blue Jays drafted Pearson with the No. 28 overall pick last year and he quickly looked like a steal, overpowering short-season Northwest League hitters and running his fastball up to 101 mph. Signals were pointing toward a breakout season for Pearson, but instead he’s going to miss most of 2018. A back injury kept him from pitching until May 7, when he lasted 1.2 innings before being hit by a line drive that fractured his right forearm. It wasn’t an elbow or shoulder injury, but it still stalls Pearson’s development. The Blue Jays are hopeful he can pitch again in 2018, but there isn’t a timetable for his return.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: After his freshman year at Florida International, Pearson transferred to the JC of Central Florida, where he elevated his stock to become the No. 28 overall pick in 2017 with a $2,452,900 bonus. The Blue Jays limited his workload after signing, but he blew away short-season Northwest League competition. Scouting Report: Pearson gives hitters an uncomfortable at-bat. He attacks them with downhill angle from his 6-foot-6 frame and pitches with a lively, heavy fastball that parked at 92-94 mph and touched 98 regularly in his college starts. In short bursts with the Blue Jays, Pearson sat in the mid- to upper 90s and touched 101 mph, with the fastball life to get swings-and-misses up and down in the zone. His secondary stuff is inconsistent but shows flashes. His changeup is an average pitch with late fade, and he added power to his slider in pro ball. It now reaches the mid- to upper 80s with late tilt, though he's still learning to land it for a strike. He throws a curveball as well but it's behind his other pitches. The Future: Pearson should start 2018 at a Class A affiliate. If he can handle a starter's workload, he has a chance to develop into a mid-rotation arm.