The TorontoBlue Jays have acquired SS Josh Rivera & OF Yohendrick Pinango from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for RHP Nate Pearson.
Additionally, RHP Ryan Burr has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and will be active for today’s game, and RHP Jordan Romano has been transferred to the 60-day injured list (right elbow inflammation).
Rivera, 23, has appeared in 68 games for the Cubs Double-A affiliate in Tennessee this season, batting .169 with four doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 16 RBI, posting a .971 fielding percentage in 596.2 innings at shortstop. The Sebring, FL, native was selected by the Cubs in the 3rd round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, out of the University of Florida. The 6-2, 215 lb. right-handed hitter has played a total of 96 career Minor League games, across three levels, batting .199 with 22 extra-base hits and 32 RBI.
Pinango, 22, has split the 2024 campaign between High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee, combining to hit .263 with 18 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 40 RBI, 45 walks, and a .797 OPS. The 5-11, 170 lb. left-handed hitter was signed by the Cubs as an international free agent in 2018. A native of Carora, Venezuela, the outfielder has played a total of 473 career Minor League contests, batting .272 with 100 doubles, 10 triples, 33 home runs, 220 RBI, and a .730 OPS.
Pearson, 27, has made 41 appearances for the Blue Jays this season, posting a 5.63 ERA with 51 strikeouts and a 1.55 WHIP. The 6-6, 255 lb. right-handed reliever was selected by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (28th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, making his big league debut for the club in 2020. The Odessa, FL, native and former top prospect has made 93 career MLB appearances (5 starts), going 7-4 with a 5.21 ERA across 115.2 combined innings, recording a 10.12 strikeout per nine rate.
For a pitcher known for his sizzle, the hype surrounding Nate Pearson is beginning to fizzle.
No one is about to throw in the towel on Pearson, but some disconcerting signs are emerging.
Flame-throwing Pearson gets doused, but Jays hang on for win
Mind you, he has only made four starts with plenty more to follow, but Pearson has yet to pitch with any semblance of consistency or command in any of his appearances.
He couldn’t get out of the fifth inning Tuesday night as Pearson left after surrendering three homers and five runs.
A five-run inning in Toronto’s top half allowed the Jays to fashion a 7-3 lead.
There was an opportunity presented to close the door.
Instead, Pearson allowed it to swing wide open as Baltimore kept fighting by exposing the kid.
Pearson was long gone as the O’s used an intentional walk followed by an infield single when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. couldn’t pick a short hop at first to even the score at 7-7.
The night required extra innings, which haven’t been friendly to the Jays.
It would end, though, with the Jays surviving the baseball marathon by eking out an 8-7 win aided by a Baltimore error and some dubious base running in 10 innings.
A leadoff walk followed by a two run blast and Pearson was suddenly looking like the MLB greenhorn that he is, unable to locate pitches, falling behind hitters and yielding a 2-0 lead to the Orioles in their first at-bat.
Pearson didn’t look comfortable on the mound, an issue that has plagued him the past the two starts following a decent debut.
Once again, Pearson’s much-vaunted fast ball was lit up as Anthony Santander went yard at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
He turned aside the home side in the second despite a single to right by Cedric Mullins, who was left stranded at second after he stole the base.
The Jays picked up their starter in the third when the red hot Randal Grichuk belted a two-run homer off Wade LeBlanc after the O’s starter walked Cavan Biggio with two out.
Pearson gave it back when Santander went back to back against Big Nate, this time connecting on a line drive to centre field for his team-leading ninth homer of the season.
Toronto’s bottom of the order was responsible for having runners at the corner with none out in the fifth.
A Biggio walk would load the bases as LeBlanc was given the hook.
Grichuk, who drove in four runs in the series opener, drove in his third and fourth on the night when his double to right scored Anthony Alford and Santiago Espinal as the Jays took a 4-3 lead.
It would increase when Travis Shaw hit a no doubter off Travis Lakins Sr. for a three-run blast.
In his first three starts, the Jays provided Pearson with one run.
When he took to the mound in Baltimore’s bottom half of the fifth inning, Pearson had a 7-3 advantage.
He promptly walked the No. 9 hitter.
On one swing of the bat, the Orioles cut the Jays’ lead in half when Chance Sisco unloaded on a Pearson slider for a two-run moon shot.
BIGGIO WADES INTO TATIS JR. TATOR
The son of former big leaguer Craig Biggio, Cavan Biggio grew up around baseball and was introduced to the game’s culture at a pretty young age.
Like any sport, baseball has its unwritten rules.
Some argue San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. broke the rule by swinging on a 3-0 pitch late in a one-sided game against the Texas Rangers Monday night.
The 21-year-old would club his second homer of the game, a grand slam no less.
Post game, Texas manager Chris Woodward brought up the unwritten rules in voicing his disapproval. “There’s a lot of unwritten rules that are constantly being challenged in today’s game,” said Woodward.
“I didn’t like it, personally. You’re up by seven in the eighth inning; it’s typically not a good time to swing 3-0. It’s kind of the way we were all raised in the game.
“But, like I said, the norms are being challenged on a daily basis. So just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not right. I don’t think we liked it as a group.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/bDLYH34sct4?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1
Biggio understands the game’s unwritten rules, but he also understands the aggressive approach shown by Tatis Jr.
“As a hitter you never want to give the pitcher anything,’’ said Biggio.
The rule of thumb for any athlete plying his trade in whatever sport is to never show up an opponent.
Biggio doesn’t feel Tatis Jr. was showing up the Rangers.
ROUNDING THE BASES
Manager Charlie Montoyo said the team’s original diagnosis of Bo Bichette (Grade 1 knee sprain) was confirmed by Dr. James Andrews. The skipper added how there’s no timeline for Bo’s return … Rowdy Tellez is feeling better, according to Montoyo, but the 1B/DH remains in concussion protocol after he took an elbow to the head late in Monday night’s win. Depending on how Tellez is feeling Wednesday, there’s the possibility he’ll enter MLB’s seven-day protocol … Injured closer Ken Giles (elbow) engaged in some light catch, while injured RHP Trent Thornton (elbow) has a chance to start Thursday when the Jays play host to a double dip in Buffalo against the Phillies…RHP Jacob Waguespack was added to the taxi squad, paving the way for the team to recall RHP Julian Merryweather.
TODAY’S GAME: NATE PEARSON Taking a Major League mound for the 2nd time, both in interleague games (7/29 vs. WAS). Nate Pearson, RHP #24 Born: Odessa, FL AGE: 23 Making his 2nd MLB start tonight, coming off his MLB Debut on 7/29 vs. WAS…Threw 5.0 scoreless innings, taking a no-decision as the Jays were shutout, 4-0, by Max Scherzer and the Nationals… Allowed 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 batters…Struck 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 6/27/15 vs. TEX)…Became the 3rd pitcher in Blue Jays history to throw 5+ scoreless innings in an MLB debut, joining Mauro Gozzo (8/8/89 vs. TEX) and Trent Thornton (3/31/19 vs. DET)…Also became the 49th player in team history to make his MLB debut as a starting pitcher, following up a debut by Thomas Hatch, 3 days earlier (7/26 at TB). Entered the season as Toronto’s top-rated prospect by MLB and Baseball America (7th overall by BA; 8th overall by MLB). ST: 5G, 2GS, 4.22 ERA, 10.2 IP, 7H, 5ER, 1HR, 5BB, 16K, .194 AVG 2019 HIGHLIGHTS: Started his campaign with A+ Dunedin and posted a 0.86 ERA (2 ER/21.0 IP) across 6 starts. Promoted to AA New Hampshire on 5/7 and held a 2.59 ERA (18 ER/62.2 IP) in 16 starts. Finished the year with 3 starts for AAA Buffalo…Went 1-0 while allowing 6 runs over 18.0 innings for a 3.00 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP (15K/3BB). Threw 7.0 shutout innings in his AAA debut on 8/20 at Rochester… Allowed 3 hits and struck out 3 batters without issuing a walk on what was his 23rd birthday. 2018 HIGHLIGHTS: Made just 1 start in the 2018 regular season before having his campaign ended with a fractured right ulna when he was hit by a line drive. Played for the Surprise Saguaros in the 2018 Arizona Fall League and went 2-2 over 6 starts…Had his fastball reach as high as 104 MPH while there and was named to both the AFL Rising Stars Team and the All-Prospect Team. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Ranked by MLB as Toronto’s No. 1 prospect heading into 2020… Listed as Baseball America’s 7th-best overall prospect. Selected by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (28th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. 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). PITCH SELECTION (2020) Four-seam Fastball (55.1%, 95.7mph), Slider (33.3%, 84.6mph), Change (9.4%, 88.8mph) Curve (2.2%, 77.0mph) YEAR W-L ERA G GS IP H ER HR BB SO AVG 2020 0-0 0.00 0 0 5.0 2 0 0 2 5 .118 2019 (AA) 1-4 2.59 16 16 62.2 41 18 4 21 69 .186 2019 (AAA) 1-0 3.00 3 3 18.0 12 6 2 3 15 .185
The nerves that seemed to accompany him to the Fenway Park mound aside, Nate Pearson has shown all the signs of being ready, willing and more than able to get major league hitters out. Read More
DUNEDIN, Fla.— It was one pitch in one game that neither Nate Pearson or Riley Adams will ever forget. And it happened right here at TD Ballpark, the Blue Jays spring training home. Read More
The view from left field 