The Toronto Blue Jays made a pair of trades on Saturday. We looked earlier at the deal they made with the Red Sox to send Danny Jansen to Boston. Now let&#8217;s dig into the other trade they made with the Chicago Cubs. Former top prospect Nate Pearson was dealt to the NL Central club for prospects Josh Rivera and Yohendrick Pinago.

<h2>Infielder Josh Rivera, Double-A</h2>
Josh Rivera saw the draft twice, first out of high school and then college. He was selected from the IMG Academy in 2019 by the San Diego Padres in the 22nd round but chose to honour his commitment to the University of Florida. Rivera was selected again in the third round by the Cubs. 
His overall collegiate showcase was impressive on various levels. The infielder slashed a .290/.382/.486 line between his four seasons with the Gators and posted a 1.064 OPS with 19 home runs in 70 games in his senior season in 2023. 
Rivera stands at 6’2” 215 lbs with an athletic build and athletic attributes in his game. His run-speed is underrated and his ability on the bases is valuable. The same speed translates on the defensive end of his game. 
Rivera’s bat took a slow route to success early in his college career. His career numbers sprouted in his senior year. These personal best numbers came through 89 hits, 72 RBIs, 19 home runs, and 18 stolen bases. 
Pitch selection might have been a flaw for Rivera, however it seems that he has addressed that. His swing is improved, his bat path is redirected, and the quick hands for bat speed have synchronized for a more demanding outcome. 
Rivera was primarily a pull-side hitter with tendencies up the middle. Now he’s able to utilize all fields. Defensively, Rivera will live as a middle infielder. Second base will be his default, however, his ability to cover ground and strong arm may have him in the shortstop role. 
<h2>Outfielder Yohendrick Pinango, Double-A</h2>
Pinango is an international signee from the 2018 signing period. He is originally from Venezuela. The left-handed hitting outfielder was a very sought-after international prospect that year. He is not a vertically physical player but shows athleticism in most of his game. He is also smart and understands the game at a high level. 
Pinango is not a hitter you want to make a mistake to, as he will take full advantage. His eye-levels are locked in, with the ability to read a high-miss or spot a bender out of the hand. His swing was longer with good bat speed and barrel control. Adjustments were made which fixed his stance to cut down the long swing a bit. His swing is a bit more compact with all the benefits from its original operation. 
In 2019, right out of the gate in the Dominican Summer League, Pinango displayed his ability with the bat, along with his speed. He had 86 hits, 36 RBIs, and stole 27 bags. Each year after this, his numbers have fluctuated but still remained justifiable. 
So far in 2024, Pinango has played at two different levels for the Cubs, as he started the year with their High-A affiliate and was promoted to Double-A after a few weeks. The lefty slashed a .340/.451/.610 line over 29 games in High-A and has a .223/.316/.345 line in 55 games in Double-A.

The Toronto Blue Jays made a pair of trades on Saturday. We looked earlier at the deal they made with the Red Sox to send Danny Jansen to Boston. Now let's dig into the other trade they made with the Chicago Cubs. Former top prospect Nate Pearson was dealt to the NL Central club for prospects Josh Rivera and Yohendrick Pinago.


<h2>Infielder Josh Rivera, Double-A</h2>
Josh Rivera saw the draft twice, first out of high school and then college. He was selected from the IMG Academy in 2019 by the San Diego Padres in the 22nd round but chose to honour his commitment to the University of Florida. Rivera was selected again in the third round by the Cubs. 

His overall collegiate showcase was impressive on various levels. The infielder slashed a .290/.382/.486 line between his four seasons with the Gators and posted a 1.064 OPS with 19 home runs in 70 games in his senior season in 2023. 

Rivera stands at 6’2” 215 lbs with an athletic build and athletic attributes in his game. His run-speed is underrated and his ability on the bases is valuable. The same speed translates on the defensive end of his game. 

Rivera’s bat took a slow route to success early in his college career. His career numbers sprouted in his senior year. These personal best numbers came through 89 hits, 72 RBIs, 19 home runs, and 18 stolen bases. 

Pitch selection might have been a flaw for Rivera, however it seems that he has addressed that. His swing is improved, his bat path is redirected, and the quick hands for bat speed have synchronized for a more demanding outcome. 

Rivera was primarily a pull-side hitter with tendencies up the middle. Now he’s able to utilize all fields. Defensively, Rivera will live as a middle infielder. Second base will be his default, however, his ability to cover ground and strong arm may have him in the shortstop role. 
<h2>Outfielder Yohendrick Pinango, Double-A</h2>
Pinango is an international signee from the 2018 signing period. He is originally from Venezuela. The left-handed hitting outfielder was a very sought-after international prospect that year. He is not a vertically physical player but shows athleticism in most of his game. He is also smart and understands the game at a high level. 

Pinango is not a hitter you want to make a mistake to, as he will take full advantage. His eye-levels are locked in, with the ability to read a high-miss or spot a bender out of the hand. His swing was longer with good bat speed and barrel control. Adjustments were made which fixed his stance to cut down the long swing a bit. His swing is a bit more compact with all the benefits from its original operation. 

In 2019, right out of the gate in the Dominican Summer League, Pinango displayed his ability with the bat, along with his speed. He had 86 hits, 36 RBIs, and stole 27 bags. Each year after this, his numbers have fluctuated but still remained justifiable. 

So far in 2024, Pinango has played at two different levels for the Cubs, as he started the year with their High-A affiliate and was promoted to Double-A after a few weeks. The lefty slashed a .340/.451/.610 line over 29 games in High-A and has a .223/.316/.345 line in 55 games in Double-A.

Scouting Report – Looking into the Nate Pearson trade return

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) watches New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) round the bases after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning at Rogers Centre

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