In general, opening debuts featured increased speed, fueled by the adrenaline of the trip and we understand Pearson can strike triple digits. I wish to see electrical power.
He nailed the within corner for 0-1, sailed a 97 miles per hour pitch north for ball one (phew), then dropped this doozy of a slider:.
All of this was excellent. 98 miles per hour (the hardest weve seen) and inducing a chase on 0-2 well above the strikezone are both marks of quality.
Starlin Castro followed and saw a first-pitch slider that fell in from the top of the zone. Pearson reared back for strike 2, pumping a raised 98 mph four-seamer for a foul ball.
At 0-2, it was 98 miles per hour once again, this time pulled into the opposite batters box.
Thats three straight pitches at 98 mph. Its time to get hyped.
At 1-2, Pearson touched 99 mph that Castro got some wood on to survive:.
It wasnt the 99 miles per hour, however Im liking this Pearson a lot more than the first inning Pearson. Much better fastball command, more velocity, and a touch more confidence. And we still havent seen the changeup!
Its still rough around the edges with slider consistency, a 94-99 mph velocity variety, and pin down his mechanics, but its there. Its fun seeing a pitcher gradually improve and showcase his potential throughout their MLB launching
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Third Inning
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I was intending to see more upper 90s speed in the 3rd, however we were very first consulted with 94 miles per hour up-and-away to Andrew Stevenson that led to a fly-out. It left me wanting more.
Program me up-and-in to left-handers! Jam batters with elite heat! Ideally we arrive.
Victor Robles stepped in and saw 97 miles per hour at the top of the zone and a touch away. An excellent very first pitch to get a strike, however once again, I wish to see that offering high-and-tight.
98 miles per hour fell off the corner to make it 1-1, then a grooved 95 miles per hour surprisingly led to a pop-out to. Thats 2 outs on doubtful fastballs, but at least hes peppering strikes. Maybe Pearsons heating system is a bit harder to choose up and barrel than others?
Proceeding, to Trea Turner, Pearson is making me fall hard for his slider. Just view this one starting his 2nd at-bat against the Nationals shortstop:.
Not an excellent slider, but Cabrera could not handle it.
Its a little bit of a struggle watching Pearson. You see the glimpses of his capacity, but hes not there on each and every pitch. The raw talent exists, I worry that itll be an unstable season ahead.
Well, thats after watching just 3 innings. Small sample size is very genuine and I want to be wrong about his undulating capability
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4th Inning
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We have not seen a changeup yet, in spite of seeing 2 lefties in Eaton and Cabrera for a second time last frame. It was on my mind as Eric Thames stepped in to lead off the 4th.
Alsmost as if he read my mind, Pearson threw neither a slider nor fastball:.
It wasnt the sharpest of sliders and had excessive of the plate, permitting a hard-hit ball that typically finds turf. Pearson had a little bit of luck here and I was curious if there is another equipment that might show up next inning
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2nd Inning
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Iwas hoping for some more consistent fastball mechanics in this inning, a peek at his changeup, and some more dirty sliders in this frame.
Up was Kurt Suzuki who saw this 95 miles per hour heater followed by a perfect slider along the outdoors corner:.
With Chase Anderson out with injury prior to the season began, we prepared for an early call-up of Toronto Blue Jays pitching possibility Nate Pearson, ranked as the # 17th total fantasy baseball possibility and # 6 SP prospect by the Pitcher List dynasty group.
Going into 2020, there was plenty of hype surrounding Pearson. His toolbox laid out triple-digit fastball speed paired with a plus-plus slider that with dignity nailed the outside corner to right-handers.
We had a fast glance of Pearson throughout his exhibition game recently, sporting spotty command and a mid 90s fastball– a bit underwhelming, though it was still summer season camp and not the real thing.
I was expecting upper 90s speed, some excellent sliders, and improved overall command.
Here is what I saw
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Inning
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Pearsons first pitch was a 95 miles per hour heating system and Im a little unfortunate to see it:.
Far more focused towards the plate on release, permitting him to drive through the pitch and keep it directly toward the plate. Theres the Pearson I want, albeit a few ticks lower than ideal.
The 1-1 pitch was another fastball, this time up-and-away as Thames fouled it off. Now in a two-strike count, he relied on his slider as soon as again, leading to a liner to left for the last out of the inning:.
Not the very best slide piece, however Pearson bore down and got the whiff he wanted. Love to see the fist pump there too.
Now seeing Trea Turner for the third time, he chose to go first-pitch curveball and Im all for it:.
Pearson fell behind to his very first left-handed batter following Turner. After missing out on high at 97 mph to Adam Eaton, Pearson missed out on with a back-door slider, then a set of heating units sailed up-and-away for easy takes. A four-pitch walk.
There could easily be nerves at play here as Pearson was flailing open and not staying closed for enough time with his front shoulder. He returned to form with his next pitch though, this 0-0 slider to Asdrubal Cabrera:.
This is just like the outs we saw earlier on sliders left over the plate and its about time Pearson was penalized for it. He has a gorgeous sweeper that will miss out on a load of bats, however hell have to be a bit more constant with it, especially with two strikes.
Now with Adam Eaton up, he missed out on with a fastball away for 0-1, then pulled an outdoors fastball too far in for ball two. Ball 3 followed quickly at just 93 mph up and conveniently out of the zone.
We havent seen Pearson stroll a batter yet and now in the hole, he gathered himself for a strong 96 miles per hour fastball at the knees– it was just like the fantastic one to Eric Thames in the. Perhaps he discovered the tweak to get his fastball command back– nope. Fastball missed far. Ball 4.
A bit frustrating to see, but I picture Pearson was a bit rattled by the fast Turner on first base with two gone. He took an action off the mound to collect himself prior to Asdrubal Cabreras first pitch, leading to a strong heating system at 96 mph considered strike one.
A sharp 85 mph slider followed in the dirt, however it was bounced too in front of the plate to induce a whiff. Cabrera looked tempted and a well-executed pitch would have worked.
Carefully, Pearson returned to it at 1-1 and got himself out of the frame:.
Absolutely beautiful. Bottom of the zone, vicious break, and over a 10 mph distinction. This is going to work.
He ended the at-bat with another slider– a little even worse than the previous one, but it landed in the zone and forced an uncomfortable whiff from Turner. Great, not explosive, however good:.
Thats exceptional. He was plainly starting to feel that pitch as he opened his next at-bat to Victor Robles with a near-identical one for another check-swing whiff, earning strike one.
He gassed it approximately 98 mph out of the zone for 1-1, but then yet another ideal slider landed under the zone for strike two:.
This is whats up. Seriously, I enjoy the high place and the speed and I dont understand if you can feel my enjoyment in these words, however like Neo, Im starting to think.
If Pearson executed an excellent slider, he would have earned his 2nd strikeout of the video game, but he left it in the middle of the zone. Castro was stuck on his front foot and rolled it over to shortstop for another simple out. Throwing 99 mph will cause outs on mediocre sliders constantly.
Bases-empty and 2 away, Carter Kieboom actioned in and saw a set of simple takes from fastballs up and within. At 2-0, Pearson flipped another easy slider for a strike, and went to it once again at 2-1 for an 83 mph breaker that missed the outside edge. I like to see Pearson trust his slider when behind in counts– Im sure he can efficiently pitch backward– and I anticipate to see more of it moving forward.
At 3-1, he painted 95 miles per hour on the outdoors corner before gassing Kieboom with 96 mph at 3-2:.
He didnt follow through successfully (his arm dragged on release) and it floated up-and-away. Its part of the fastball disparity weve seen with his leading half not quite catching up to his bottom half. Im unfortunate to see him stop working in this 0-1 count as an effective changeup would have worked well. Thames was most likely sitting heating unit after the first pitch hook.
Pearson gave him that heater at 1-1, a little up and middle of the zone, resulting in a liner to the right-field corner, helpful for a double. , if only that changeup had worked …
Pearson started off Suzuki with a slider that just missed nipping the top of the zone.. At 1-0, he returned to it and made it tighter, however just missed out on off the inside corner. At 2-0, its a bit of a scary circumstance. Hes nearly surely going heating unit and his command hasnt been fantastic.
Suzuki was ready for it, and slapped a grounder up the middle, but fortunately right at the 2nd baseman for the first out of the frame. That might have been a lot worse and Pearson ought to feel lucky to get a grounder for an out, given the circumstance.
Starlin Castro followed and took a first-pitch slider to see another one at 1-0, this time hung along the outdoors edge:.
It worked, I d ideally like it a little bit lower, however he got the out he desired
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Conclusion
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It was a little bit of whatever in Pearsons launching. We saw the ceiling– upper 90s heat, a wonderful slider, a strike-earning curveball, and a moment of bliss with his changeup– and we saw the flooring– over-thrown fastballs, sliders finding the middle of the zone, and irregular mechanics. Im not sold that well see Pearson have the ability to carry out at a high level through the year, however his things enables him to get away with a good amount of mistakes.
Pearson requires to work a little on his timing as his arm dragged a bit frequently. When his arm-circle accelerated, he had the ability to remain through his pitches and wow all of us. When he hurried his bottom half, it caused four-pitch walks and bad sliders that can be crushed frequently.
He left without a run to his name, but against a much better lineup, I d anticipate him to be punished a bit more for his middle-middle heaters and sliders, though I see a relatively good flooring here provided his sliders bite and fastballs velocity.
In general, I liked what I saw. I hope he can work in good curveballs and changeups a bit more while identifying heaters up-and-in frequently, however his current level will work. Lets just hope he can modify those mechanics slightly to guarantee he stays through the ball on release and withstand flying open too early.
Thats a fantastic pitch to mix-in to help enhance the efficiency of both heating systems and sliders. It led to Turner fouling off a 96 mph up-and-in, making a fast 0-2 count.
What do you toss here? Pearson is feeling his slider and dotted the pitch down-and-away for his final out of the video game:.
The changeup! And it was BEAUTIFUL.
Man, if Pearson can get consistent with this pitch and toss it to right-handers while pumping upper 90s and a wipeout slider …
But then on his extremely next pitch, he threw another changeup that he got too far on the side of as it blew into the batters box. Stevenson didnt even blink at the pitch to make the count 1-2. Womp womp.
As I got my expectations in check, Pearson flaunted that wonderful slider to make his 4th strikeout of the game:.
Thats a strong pitch. Terrific to see Pearson have 97 miles per hour still in the tank and have the ability to nail the corner after struggling all inning.
Well it gets better as Pearson closed the frame on the really next pitch:.
A curveball! I didnt anticipate to see this! Its a great pitch, but it appears more like a show-me to use early in counts instead of a cash maker to make outs. Thats completely great as weve currently seen Pearson battle to get ahead with heating units and it has enough break that I d wish to see it sprinkled in a little more frequently.
At 0-1, Pearson then flaunted his first changeup of the video game at 86 mph– Thames is ruining us!– and I feel bad showing it. It was awful:.
At 2-0, Pearson flipped another simple slider for a strike, and went to it once again at 2-1 for an 83 miles per hour breaker that missed out on the outside edge. I like to see Pearson trust his slider when behind in counts– Im sure he can efficiently pitch backwards– and I expect to see more of it moving forward.
It wasnt the 99 miles per hour, but Im liking this Pearson a lot more than the first inning Pearson. If just that changeup had actually worked …
Pearson started off Suzuki with a slider that just simply nipping the top of the zone. Male, if Pearson can get constant with this pitch and toss it to right-handers while pumping upper 90s and a wipeout slider …
But then on his very next pitch, he threw tossed changeup that he got too far on the side of as it blew into the batters box.
Yeah, that works for me. Now we see why Pearson was such a highly-touted possibility.
Stop reading. Go watch that GIF again and imprint it in your mind. Thats the goal.
Now at 0-2, Pearson raised and Suzuki chased, earning a simple chopper to third:.
Book first pitch strike there. So great, it made Turner take a weak hack at 97 miles per hour that landed outside the zone for strike two.
Turner saw a set of fastballs after, each missing at 97/98 (the latter well above the zone), however he came back with another slider at 2 strikes:.
Pearson is finding gloves right now despite looking as poor as he has all game. Nevertheless, he threw his 3 best pitches of the frame in his next at-bat. Pearson got a lucky 0-0 call with a slider that fell off the outdoors corner to Carter Kieboom, then followed it with this 97 miles per hour fastball:.
Kieboom was most likely trying to find a slider and was met 99 miles per hour dotted on the corner. Oof. Thats stunning and you need to feel for Kieboom a bit as he saw Pearson at his best.
So we got a take a look at his changeup and curveball at initially, but Pearson fell back into the fastball/slider regular soon after to close the fourth. He was a bit lucky to leave unharmed, however I have to offer him credit to bear down against Kieboom. Still a little hesitant of the longterm consistency, but its hard not to be fascinated by 99 mph painted on the corner
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Fifth Inning
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Im hoping Pearson can recuperate from a shaky inning. He flipped in a solid 83 mph slider far from Andrew Stevenson for strike one then he offered us this beauty:.
I feel unusual continuing to GIF these sliders here, but you require to see that Pearson has the ability to perform the pitch a reasonable amount. And, you know, its pretty.
He pulled a slider outside after, then spun a weak slider to the middle of the zone for a chopper foul by 3rd. At 2-2, I enjoyed seeing Pearson aim high with 97 mph that was fouled away. Thats the right method to me, now reveal me the changeup …
Nope, another poor slider that had Robles method out in front and lined nasty into the stands. We do it again at 2-2 and Pearson toppled a fastball high at 96 mph for a simple take.
Pearson got his guy with another slider, this one just low adequate inside the zone to prevent Robles bat:.
I dont blame you Cabrera, thats outright filth. Pearson returned to the pitch at 0-1, and bounced it in the dirt, perhaps alarmed that Adam Eaton had a great jump and cruised into 2nd base.
At 1-1, I anticipated Pearson to paint the outdoors corner with a fastball, which he did … at 94 miles per hour with a bit of elevation and it caused a nasty out of play. Im not thrilled about that reasonably low speed– this is expected to be plus-plus heat!
Pearson fired another fastball, this time at 96 miles per hour and fouled off on the third-base side once again. Another slider followed, this one getting a lots of the plate on the inner half, however Cabrera could only dribble it to very first base. Its an actually good breaking ball, but without proper fastball command (and minimized speed) itll be a struggle for Pearson.
Next was a poor opening pitch to Eric Thames with another missed heating system, however the 1-0 offering was the very best fastball I d seen up until now:.
