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Why Toronto Blue Jays’ Reliever Nate Pearson Was Sent to Triple-A

  • Edgar Chaput's Author profile. Edgar Chaput

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Relief thrower Nate Pearson had posted respectable numbers this season in many categories.  A 5-2 record, 4.75 ERA, and 36 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. Nevertheless, Toronto Blue Jays management saw fit to exercise the option of sending him down to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. What do John Gibbons and David Bastl make of the decision?

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Blue Jays Pitcher Nate Pearson Sent down to Triple-A

Bastl argues that the Blue Jays have benefited from Nate Pearson’s services in 2023, making the decision to relegate him to the affiliate squad a bit of a head-scratcher. John Gibbons agrees to an extent but also puts the move into context.

“I was kind of surprised when I first saw it but he has had a couple of rough ones (games) lately. He’s been used a lot. That’s the nature of the big league game these days, the bullpen guys get used a lot and it’s fatigue time.”

The former manager continues by sharing that the word on the street had it that Pearson lost his breaking ball, a pitch that typically serves him well. Furthermore, he happened to be one of the players on the Toronto Blue Jays’ roster that could be optioned to the minor leagues. That keeps Pearson on the larger 40-player roster, but not the active 26-player roster that travels with the team.

“That’s happened to many good pitchers. I understand it. They (the Blue Jays) had to clear space for Genesis Cabrera. He hasn’t had the best year but maybe the pitching coach Pete Walker can turn him around.”

To Gibbons’ point, Toronto recently acquired former St. Louis Cardinals reliever Genesis Cabrera even though he’s having the worst season of his five-year career (5.06 ERA in 32 innings pitched).