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Blue Jays' Pearson lands on Double-A IL

No. 41 overall prospect has 2.70 ERA since joining Fisher Cats
Nate Pearson is unscored upon in 10 of 14 starts between Dunedin and New Hampshire this season. (Carl Kline/MiLB.com)
June 22, 2019

Nate Pearson has been nothing short of dominant this season, but he'll be on the shelf for at least the next few days. The second-ranked Blue Jays prospect was placed on the seven-day injured list, retroactive to Thursday, with an undisclosed ailment.

Nate Pearson has been nothing short of dominant this season, but he'll be on the shelf for at least the next few days. 
The second-ranked Blue Jays prospect was placed on the seven-day injured list, retroactive to Thursday, with an undisclosed ailment.

Pearson started the season with a 0.86 ERA in six starts in the Florida State League, earning a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire on May 7. Alternating between two- and five-inning starts as the Blue Jays controlled his workload, MLB.com's No. 41 overall prospect has a 2.70 ERA through 26 2/3 innings in the Eastern League. With his 75-grade fastball that can reach triple digits, he's accumulated 31 strikeouts against five walks since the promotion. 
In his last outing on June 15, the right-hander threw two perfect innings and fanned three against Richmond. 

"It's all about looking out for the best for me," he told MiLB.com on June 9 about the innings limit. "They want me to be able to go deep into games late in the season, so right now we have to limit my innings so I can do that in the back half of the season. It's just something that I have to get through now, and I really don't mind it.
"Sometimes when I get my two innings, I get into that rhythm I know I was in today and I really want to go back out, but they tell me I'm done and take the ball from me. It's kind of frustrating, but it's all fun. It's still a game."
Since returning from a fractured right ulna that limited him to one start last season, Pearson has a 1.89 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 66 strikeouts across two levels. Drafted 28th overall in 2017, he's 3-2 with a 1.82 ERA and 93 punchouts over 69 1/3 frames in 23 Minor League starts.

Andrew Battifarano is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter, @AndrewAtBatt.