Blue Jays Nation’s 2025 Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 27: Brandon Barriera
Photo credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea - USA Today
Feb 10, 2025, 14:30 ESTUpdated: Feb 20, 2025, 03:57 EST
It’s been an injury-filled professional career for today’s prospect.
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 27th-best prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays system, Brandon Barriera.
Getting to know Brandon Barriera…
Position: Starting pitcher
Throws: Left
Born: Mar. 4, 2004
Acquired 1st-round, 2022 draft
Previous ranking: 21
The Blue Jays used their first-round selection in the 2022 draft to select left-handed pitcher Brandon Barriera out of high school. Like many of their pitching prospects, Barriera didn’t make his professional debut until the following season. He spent most of his time with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, where he had a 4.42 ERA and a 3.26 FIP In 18.1 innings pitched, with a 31.5 K% and an 11 BB%.
In his first and only start in 2024 with the D-Jays, Barriera pitched just an inning and a third while giving up two earned runs before he was pulled from his game. It turned out he needed Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the season.
Barriera received surgery on his pitching elbow in late April – the traditional Tommy John Surgery with an added brace, with an expected rehab time of 12-18 months. Barring a setback, he should be available at some point next season, but this has been the story of his career so far: injuries.
Still, he ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 16th-best Blue Jays prospect in their mid-season update. All three of his pitches – a fastball, slider, and changeup are above average, earning a 55 grade, while his control sits at 50. The fastball is interesting as it has reached 95-96 mph in the past. He’ll be 21 next month, so still plenty of time to figure it out.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
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