After last night’s implosion, the Blue Jays can use any help they can get in the bullpen.
So here’s some good news… Nate Pearson, who’s been out for action for a few months with a sports hernia, is joining the Buffalo Bisons for a rehab assignment. He’ll start the game and toss one inning and then Thomas Hatch will take over in relief.
ROSTER MOVE: #BlueJays #1 prospect, RHP Nate Pearson, has been activated off the injured list and will start for the #Bisons today vs. Rochester! pic.twitter.com/TkaHQVaYDZ
— Buffalo Bisons🦬 (@BuffaloBisons) August 14, 2021
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This certainly hasn’t been the season anybody was expecting for Pearson. He got injured early in spring training, missed virtually all of camp, and had to build himself up throughout April. Pearson finally made his 2021 debut for the Bisons on May 4 and was called up to the Blue Jays for his next start due to multiple injuries in the team’s rotation.
Pearson got lit up by the Astros in that outing, allowing three earned runs on four hits and five walks while striking out nobody over two-and-one-third innings.
He was sent down after that and struggled in his first few appearances at the Triple-A level. Come June, Pearson seemed to be hitting his stride, but that got derailed when he was placed on the Injured List with what was described at the time as another groin injury.
Given there isn’t enough time left in the season to stretch Pearson out to be a starter again, the Blue Jays are going to use him in a relief role the rest of the way. Getting Pearson back as a reliever could be a game-changer for the Blue Jays. Despite adding Adam Cimber, Trevor Richards, and Brad Hand, the team can certainly use another weapon for late-game situations.
Pearson had a couple of very good showings in 2020 as a reliever. Most notably, he dominated the Rays for two innings in Game 2 of the play-in series last fall, striking out five of the six batters he faced.
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