Fernando Pérez named as the Blue Jays’ representative for the 2024 All-Star Futures Game
2 days ago
The All-Star break is quickly approaching.
There are many fun festivities surrounding the game, such as the 2024 MLB draft, as well as the home run derby where Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won it all last season. On top of that, there’s the showcase of the league’s best prospects in the All-Star Futures Game.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the Blue Jays would only send one representative to the game, 20-year-old right-handed pitcher Fernando Pérez.
The Nicaraguan-native started his professional career in 2022, where he posted a 4.53 ERA and a 3.42 FIP in 43.2 innings pitched with the Dominican Summer League Jays. He walked just 2.6% of batters and had a 24.9 K%.
In 2023, he pitched for the Florida Complex League Jays, where he had a 2.72 ERA and a 3 FIP in 49.2 innings pitched, along with an increase in strikeouts to 29.2 K%, while still posting a solid 6.2 BB%.
This earned him a spot on numerous top Blue Jay prospect lists. He ranked as my 45th-best Blue Jays prospect, in hindsight, a bit low, as well as Fangraphs’ 29th-best Jays’ prospect, and MLB Pipeline’s 23rd-best Toronto prospect.
So far in 2024 with the Dunedin Blue Jays, the 20-year-old starter has a 3.60 ERA and a 3.16 FIP in 70 innings pitched, along with a 26.9 K% and a 6.7 BB%. He sits at 91-93 mph with the fastball but has reached 95 mph. He also features a slider, curveball, and changeup to give him four solid pitches.
Last season, the two Blue Jays prospects that pitched in the Futures Game were Sem Robberse and Yosver Zulueta, both are no longer with the franchise. Robberse was involved in the Jordan Hicks less than a month later, while Yosver Zulueta was designated for assignment before the start of the 2024 season.
Zulueta also pitched in the 2022 futures game, but threw one pitch to get out of the inning. Current top Blue Jays’ prospect Ricky Teidemann also pitched in that game, while Austin Martin was the Blue Jays’ representative in 2021.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
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