The towering right-hander showed not just his elite skill, but the many layers that occur with it as he opened the video game leaning greatly on his fastball and slider before changing his pitch mix to include his curveball and changeup late. Pearson remained in complete control for a neat 75 pitches over those five frames, and he knew it.
” I had a little bit of whatever working,” Pearson stated. It got me out of some jams and I got some big strikeouts with it, but I also tossed 2 curveballs for strikes and a changeup that I got a swing-and-miss on, too.”
Nate Pearsons MLB debut in Wednesdays 4-0 loss to the Nationals matched the sky-high expectations for heaven Jays No. 1 prospect, as he held the protecting champs scoreless over five innings of two-hit ball at Nationals Park. Pearson struck out five and walked 2.
Nate Pearson. ⛽ pic.twitter.com/uxFnhHfQeW— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 29, 2020
” My stuff plays here and I belong here,” Pearson said. “Ill just carry that confidence that I had today into my next getaway and my getaways in years to come. I understand my stuff plays, and thats all Im concentrated on.”
Pearson has constantly said he gets more powerful as the video game goes on, though– and he did. After peaking at 96.8 mph in the first inning, the big right-hander began pumping 98-plus in the second, which the Nationals could not overtake. Pearson ended the inning by blowing a fastball past Carter Kieboom prior to spinning off the mound and breaking back to the dugout.
Think the hype.
Nate Pearsons MLB debut in Wednesdays 4-0 loss to the Nationals matched the sky-high expectations for the Blue Jays No. 1 prospect, as he held the defending champions scoreless over 5 innings of two-hit ball at Nationals Park. Pearson struck out 5 and walked 2.
” My stuff
That pitch mix was prepared, and it demonstrates how Pearsons psychological approach on the mound makes him a real pitcher, not just a thrower. In pregame meetings, Pearson and the Blue Jays identified that the Nationals had some hitters who handled changeups well, however not sliders, so they decided to lean on his power stuff early.
” When he got out of the video game, I stated, Hey, male, weve got an opportunity to win every 5 days,” said manager Charlie Montoyo, who all of a sudden has a new Ferrari being in his garage.
Kieboom may have some headaches about Pearson, due to the fact that it didnt end there. After enabling a leadoff double in the 4th, Pearson forced a groundout and a lineout to set up a showdown against Kieboom with a runner on 3rd and two outs. After rapidly jumping ahead 0-2, Pearson tossed his finest pitch of the night, a 98.5-mph fastball at the knees that couldnt have actually been put better if he walked the ball to the plate himself.
It took him Pearson 4 pitches to reveal why hes thought about the future ace of heaven Jays, and its not all about his fastball. After beginning Washington leadoff player Trea Turner with a heating system that painted the inside edge, he came back at 1-1 with 2 sliders. Turner whiffed on both of them, making him the first of what figures to be many strikeouts in Pearsons career.
Believe the buzz.
99 MPH AND painted? pic.twitter.com/5yxIiTUUji— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 29, 2020
The Blue Jays bullpen ultimately fell apart behind Pearson in bonus, but Wednesdays trip was an introducing pad. The 23-year-old stated he was “taking psychological pictures” and will review going toe-to-toe with the fantastic Max Scherzer, however for now, his focus rapidly shifts to his next time out. The possibility days are over, and Pearson is here not simply to establish, but to win.
Where others shy away from sharing their lofty aspirations, rather leaning on the tried-and-true responses about attempting to get better every day, Pearson will inform you precisely what he wants.” Its just all of the veteran guys informing me its the exact same game youre playing in the Minors,” Pearson stated.
Keegan Matheson is a reporter/editor for MLB.com based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter @KeeganMatheson.
It took him Pearson four pitches to reveal why hes considered the future ace of the Blue Jays, and its not all about his fastball. Pearson has constantly stated he gets stronger as the video game goes on, though– and he did. After quickly leaping ahead 0-2, Pearson tossed his finest pitch of the night, a 98.5-mph fastball at the knees that couldnt have been placed better if he strolled the ball to the plate himself.
Pearson has always been a positive pitcher. Where others shy away from sharing their lofty goals, rather leaning on the reliable responses about attempting to improve every day, Pearson will inform you exactly what he wants. He desires to be the very best, and Wednesday was step one.
” Its just all of the veteran guys telling me its the very same video game youre playing in the Minors,” Pearson stated. “Just head out there and dominate. Head out there and do the very same thing youve been doing the entire time. Thats precisely what I did. I understand its going to be a swing and miss out on when I toss a good pitch. When I understand Im going to call him up, I simply act my normal self and be positive.”
