Blue Jays Nation’s 2023 Preseason Top 50: #3 Brandon Barriera

1 year ago

Our last 2022 draftee also ranks as Blue Jays Nation’s third best prospect.

Brandon Barriera may not have any statistics yet, but his stuff has been described as “the nastiest” in the 2022 class.

Before we jump into the profile, let’s look at the criteria!

Brennan’s criteria:

Instead of writing this out every time I did for the mid-season Top 60, I’ll copy and paste my criteria for how I rank and scout these players.

There are many factors that determine a top prospect. The eye test is the biggest driver in determining a top prospect, but proximity to the majors, ceiling, and floor is also important. Moreover, statistics are another key ingredient, as everything works together to give you numbers.

As for the grades, it’s important to remember that they are relative to the league in which they play. A kid from Dunedin is not going to have a 50-grade hit tool if he were placed in the big leagues. But relative to the league in which he plays, a .300 hitter is eligible to have that grade.

For these prospects, I’ll be reviewing their background, numbers in the minors, pitch mix (if they’re a pitcher), and giving a scouting report (if feasible, rookie league guys are difficult).

Let’s jump in!

Brandon Barriera‘s career so far:

The 18-year-old left-handed pitcher was selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft.

Unlike the majority of the players on this list, Barriera hasn’t made his professional debut, nor did he play college ball. Therefore, there are sadly no statistics to speak of.

Brandon Barriera’s stuff:

Barriera features a fastball that sits 92-95 mph that has touched 98 mph, as well as a slider that sits in the mid 80s, and a changeup.

Scouting report:

Compact frame, with muscular legs and broad shoulders, Barriera hasn’t completely filled out his frame as of yet. He has a three-pitch mix, with a sweeping slider that sits in the mid-80s, as well as a sinking fastball and a changeup with armside fade. Barriera is also aggressive when facing batters, not afraid to throw his pitches for strikes. Barriera has shown excellent control and command, despite his young age. Some scouts say he had the nastiest stuff in the class, and his bulldog attitude on the mound will serve him well. He’s been described as a “more athletic Ricky Tiedemann”.

Grades:

Fastball: 55

Changeup: 50

Slider: 55

Control: 50

Overall: 55

Where he’ll start in 2023:

Barriera will likely start his professional career with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays, much like fellow prep draftee, Irv Carter.

There’s been a lot of comparisons between Barriera and fellow Jays prospect, Ricky Tiedemann. Not only is Barriera compared to him in terms of what he brings, but the “Ricky Tiedemann blueprint” could also be applied to Barriera.

It may not be out of the question to see Barriera pitch for the Low-A Dunedin Blue Jays, and potentially the High-A Vancouver Canadians if all goes well.