For a team looking to return to the playoffs next season, the Toronto Blue Jays seem to be keeping an open mind about possibly stretching out Nate Pearson as a starting pitcher again next spring.
Pearson, who’s only made one start at any level since 2022, has strictly operated as a reliever over the last two seasons, logging 79 combined big-league innings out of the bullpen in that span. But this organization will likely have a hole or two to fill within its starting rotation heading into ’25, with only Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, and Chris Bassitt locked into spots for next year.
Yusei Kikuchi, a free agent after this season, will likely be traded ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. While Yariel Rodriguez is proving he could be an option to start in ’25, his services could be just as useful in the ‘pen. Given the injuries to Alek Manoah and top pitching prospects Ricky Tiedemann and Adam Macko, the Blue Jays’ pitching depth remains a massive question mark.
“I’ve definitely considered it, I’ve always wanted to be a starter,” Pearson told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi prior to Thursday’s series finale in San Francisco. “Obviously the past couple of years before this haven’t really gone my way in terms of health, the guys we’ve signed, the roster spots and everything. So right now I’m coming out of the ‘pen, trying to help our team win, whether it’s one inning, two innings.“Looking into next year, if that’s an option, then I definitely want to explore it. That’s something I’ll have to sit down and talk with them about, see what the need is. But I’m definitely open to it, definitely would love to get another shot at it.”
Making Pearson into a reliever became a necessity after injuries, and a case of mono in 2022, stunted his development as a starting pitcher, preventing him from reaching 100 innings pitched in five of his first six seasons with the Blue Jays organization since being selected 28th overall in ’17.
The 27-year-old righty bounced back and forth from triple-A Buffalo and the majors last season, struggling to command the strike zone consistently with all his pitches, as he walked nearly 10 per cent of his batters faced with Toronto. This season, though, he’s appeared to have found his footing as a reliever, posting a career-high 20.4-per-cent strikeout-to-walk rate difference over 38 appearances.
Based on the state of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, a group riddled with injuries and poor performances in 2024, Pearson’s run of success has elevated his role as of late, needing him to assume larger responsibilities in high-leverage situations. But it’s also made the club contemplate the idea of stretching him out in a year where healthy pitchers have been tough to find, Davidi reports.
“We’ve always considered Nate to be a potential starter in the major leagues, I don’t think that will change,” pitching coach Pete Walker said. “Will he get the opportunity again? I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Right now, he’s still finding his niche and learning how to pitch out of the bullpen, which a lot of guys do. You learn a lot about yourself, how to compete in tough situations, how to make adjustments, realizing where your pitches have to be and that location is really important, even if you throw hard. He’s learning a lot right now and I could see him being a starting pitcher again, for sure.”
Pearson has closely observed the success that Garrett Crochet, Reynaldo López and Jordan Hicks — all former relievers, two of which are now All-Stars — have enjoyed transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation this season. And that’s given him confidence that perhaps he can follow that trend, too.
At the same time, one major difference between him and those other three is they all succeeded as reliable high-leverage relievers before becoming starters. That, however, hasn’t been the case for the hard-throwing Blue Jays hurler.
“It’s definitely encouraging to see Hicks being a reliever for years over in St. Louis and then transitioning, making the jump and being pretty successful so far this year,” said Pearson. “And then Crochet, watching him throw earlier this year, he wasn’t even a [full-time] starter in college, now he’s in the rotation, throwing pretty well. So definitely, I feel, [it] helps me out for other people to see that is possible to make that transition. I guess only time will tell. Finish out this year, hopefully put up some good numbers and then look forward to next year.”
Toronto’s bullpen will also have several holes to fill next season, particularly if Yimi García and Trevor Richards — both pending free agents — are dealt before the end of the month. Chad Green could draw interest, too, with another year on his deal in 2025. With Jordan Romano recently undergoing elbow surgery and Erik Swanson assigned to triple-A, most of those vacancies will be at the back end.
So, in all likelihood, the priority will be having Pearson return to the ‘pen next season. But now that he’s found success with his three-pitch mix (fastball, slider, curveball) and has started reincorporating a sinker, there could be a pathway to working as a starter next spring.
Either way, 2025 will be a pivotal year regardless of Pearson’s role, as he’ll be out of options and two seasons away from free agency.