Blue Jays Nation’s 2025 Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 12: Fernando Pérez
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Feb 19, 2025, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 20, 2025, 03:58 EST
Today’s prospect is one of the more interesting young pitchers in the organization.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual Pre-Season Prospect Countdown, this time looking at the top 40 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.
Let’s take a look at our 12th-best Toronto Blue Jays prospect, Fernando Pérez!
Getting to know Fernando Pérez…
Position: Starting pitcher
Throws: Right
Born: February 12, 2004
Acquired: 2022 International Free Agent
Previous ranking: 12
It’s not all that often you see a player from Nicaragua make waves in baseball, but Pérez has quickly become one of the Blue Jays’ best young players in the farm system.
Making his debut in 2022 in the Dominican Summer League, the right-handed pitcher had a 4.53 ERA and a 3.42 FIP in 43.2 innings pitched, or 12 starts, with a 24.9 K% and a 2.6 BB%. Pérez followed that up with a 2.72 ERA and a 3 FIP in 49.2 innings pitched in the Florida Complex League, with a 29.2 K% and a 6.2 BB%.
Expectations were high for Pérez coming into the 2024 season and he started the season with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays. He did solid in his first foray into the “A” levels, posting a 4.06 ERA and a 3.47 FIP in 82 innings pitched, with a 25.8 K% and a 7.2 BB%.
The young righty ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 10th-best Blue Jays prospect in their mid-season update. His fastball sat between 93-94 mph but his best pitch is his mid-80s slider. Pérez also features a changeup and a curveball with excellent command and control. Standing at 6’3”, 170 lbs pounds, there’s still projection in the 21-year-old’s frame, which could translate into even better velocity.
Expect the 21-year-old to earn a shot in High-A at some point this season, whether that’s a mid-season promotion or he starts there to begin the 2025 season.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
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