The Toronto Blue Jays have a vague representation at the 2024 MLB All-Star game &#8211; as announced so far. Included in this year’s Futures Games event is Blue Jays prospect pitcher <a href="https://www.milb.com/player/fernando-perez-800125">Fernando Perez</a>, the lone representative for the organization at the midsummer event.
Days ago, Blue Jays Nation writer Ryley Delaney <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/fernando-perez-named-as-the-blue-jays-representative-for-the-2024-all-star-futures-game">reported</a> on the right-hander being selected to represent the Blue Jays in the showcase. The Futures Games is the Major League Baseball version of show and tell. This is where the world gets a look at the up-and-coming prospects across the league in a game against the best of the best. Last year, the Blue Jays sent Sem Robberse and Yosver Zulueta to the event.
To those who follow and have an interest in prospects, this year’s roster has some worthy names on both teams, including Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander, Mets pitcher Brandon Sproat, Red Sox catcher Kyle Teel, and Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones to name a few.
It is refreshing for the Blue Jays to have a player on the roster, given the fact that a lot of the notable prospects are established and currently on the big league roster. Toronto has had a fair share of prospects called up to the big leagues to assist with injury and other absences. They still employ a stack of hot-topic prospects awaiting their arrival and Perez’s name being called is a huge upside to the quieter portion of the Jays top 30 prospect list.
So, what’s Fernando Perez all about?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
OFFICIAL: RHP Fernando Perez 🇳🇮 has been named to the <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> All-Star <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FuturesGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FuturesGame</a>! ⭐️
🔹 Threw a combined no-hitter in 2023 🔹 Threw an immaculate inning in 2024 🔹 Has a 3.60 ERA with Dunedin 🔹 2nd in our system with 70 IP <a href="https://t.co/FIEgTFXs4H">pic.twitter.com/FIEgTFXs4H</a>
&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1808140557375414690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The right-hander signed with the Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2022 for $10,000. The 20-year-old was born in Rivas, Nicaragua and Nicaraguan baseball is up and coming. The nation has produced all levels of ball players, with 15 professional players currently playing in the MLB. The country is becoming a popular destination for independent professional ball players to gain extra quality reps and to showcase their skills as well. The Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League runs throughout the fall months and has become a stomping ground for postseason players to play while prepping for their next venture.
In single-A Dunedin, the righty <a href="https://www.mlb.com/prospects/bluejays/">ranks</a> 23rd of the 30 top Blue Jays prospects per MLB Pipeline. To start his career, he saw 43 and ⅔ innings in the Dominican Summer League where he struck out 48 hitters while only walking five. In 2023, he pitched 49 and ⅔ innings in the Florida Complex League, finishing with a 2.72 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 12 walks against 195 batters faced. This season, he currently ranks second in the farm system in innings thrown (70.0) and has thrown to a 3.60 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 19 walks.
The basis of Perez’s profile is projection. He holds out to be a guy based on his physical foundation and potential development. His 6-foot-3 vertical with long limbs can show out to having a rubber-like arm. Although his physical makeup screams aggressive, Perez isn’t an overpowering pitcher. Only recently has his velocity been on the up and up. Despite the rise in velocity, he still hasn’t hit MLB-type expectations yet but surpasses that flaw by pitching well.
Perez has three pitch options. His four-seam fastball is commanded well and he dots it where he needs it. This sits at 93-94 mph. The projection is to get him to 96 mph. His slider will be his put-away, as he throws it with confidence, but needs to throw it more. The more he uses it, the more it’ll develop.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Fernando Perez ranked No. 24 in the Blue Jays system in the offseason and could be a name jumping up the list this season. He mixed four pitches on Friday, fastball sat 93-95 mph w/ 18-19 IVB on average, a mid-80s cutter, a low-80s slider and a lower-80s changeup that generated… <a href="https://t.co/zSoqmW6qHb">pic.twitter.com/zSoqmW6qHb</a>
&mdash; Geoff Pontes (@GeoffPontesBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeoffPontesBA/status/1774801393162813603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
His changeup option is a &#8216;get-me-over&#8217; pitch and can have a chance to be successful if his fastball gets 1-2 more miles per hour. Physical growth and fundamental development are what&#8217;s in store for Perez, who will continue to work on his craft over the next few years as he works his way up the Minor League ladder.
His recent performance has shown his talent and he’s fully deserving of his ticket to the 2024 All-Star festivities, representing the Blue Jays as he continues his trajectory towards the big leagues.
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The Toronto Blue Jays have a vague representation at the 2024 MLB All-Star game - as announced so far. Included in this year’s Futures Games event is Blue Jays prospect pitcher <a href="https://www.milb.com/player/fernando-perez-800125">Fernando Perez</a>, the lone representative for the organization at the midsummer event.

Days ago, Blue Jays Nation writer Ryley Delaney <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/fernando-perez-named-as-the-blue-jays-representative-for-the-2024-all-star-futures-game">reported</a> on the right-hander being selected to represent the Blue Jays in the showcase. The Futures Games is the Major League Baseball version of show and tell. This is where the world gets a look at the up-and-coming prospects across the league in a game against the best of the best. Last year, the Blue Jays sent Sem Robberse and Yosver Zulueta to the event.

To those who follow and have an interest in prospects, this year’s roster has some worthy names on both teams, including Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander, Mets pitcher Brandon Sproat, Red Sox catcher Kyle Teel, and Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones to name a few.

It is refreshing for the Blue Jays to have a player on the roster, given the fact that a lot of the notable prospects are established and currently on the big league roster. Toronto has had a fair share of prospects called up to the big leagues to assist with injury and other absences. They still employ a stack of hot-topic prospects awaiting their arrival and Perez’s name being called is a huge upside to the quieter portion of the Jays top 30 prospect list.

So, what’s Fernando Perez all about?

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1808140557375414690

The right-hander signed with the Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2022 for $10,000. The 20-year-old was born in Rivas, Nicaragua and Nicaraguan baseball is up and coming. The nation has produced all levels of ball players, with 15 professional players currently playing in the MLB. The country is becoming a popular destination for independent professional ball players to gain extra quality reps and to showcase their skills as well. The Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League runs throughout the fall months and has become a stomping ground for postseason players to play while prepping for their next venture.

In single-A Dunedin, the righty <a href="https://www.mlb.com/prospects/bluejays/">ranks</a> 23rd of the 30 top Blue Jays prospects per MLB Pipeline. To start his career, he saw 43 and ⅔ innings in the Dominican Summer League where he struck out 48 hitters while only walking five. In 2023, he pitched 49 and ⅔ innings in the Florida Complex League, finishing with a 2.72 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 12 walks against 195 batters faced. This season, he currently ranks second in the farm system in innings thrown (70.0) and has thrown to a 3.60 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 19 walks.

The basis of Perez’s profile is projection. He holds out to be a guy based on his physical foundation and potential development. His 6-foot-3 vertical with long limbs can show out to having a rubber-like arm. Although his physical makeup screams aggressive, Perez isn’t an overpowering pitcher. Only recently has his velocity been on the up and up. Despite the rise in velocity, he still hasn’t hit MLB-type expectations yet but surpasses that flaw by pitching well.

Perez has three pitch options. His four-seam fastball is commanded well and he dots it where he needs it. This sits at 93-94 mph. The projection is to get him to 96 mph. His slider will be his put-away, as he throws it with confidence, but needs to throw it more. The more he uses it, the more it’ll develop.

https://twitter.com/GeoffPontesBA/status/1774801393162813603

His changeup option is a 'get-me-over' pitch and can have a chance to be successful if his fastball gets 1-2 more miles per hour. Physical growth and fundamental development are what's in store for Perez, who will continue to work on his craft over the next few years as he works his way up the Minor League ladder.

His recent performance has shown his talent and he’s fully deserving of his ticket to the 2024 All-Star festivities, representing the Blue Jays as he continues his trajectory towards the big leagues.

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Blue Jays prospect Fernando Perez is one to keep an eye on in the farm system

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