Toronto Blue Jays: 3 things to look forward to ahead of 2020 season

3. Nate Pearson’s arrival

The Jays’ number 1 prospect (via MLB.com) and MLB’s number 8 prospect, Pearson is as exciting as it gets when it comes to pitching prospects. He throws hard, having hit 104 mph on his fastball in live game action, and a reported 105 mph in a side session.

Across three levels last season, Pearson had a 2.30 ERA, struck out 119 batters, and posted a 0.885 WHIP in 101.2 innings. His stuff is lethal, and he sequences at-bats very well. His fastball-slider-curveball repertoire is very polished for a young pitcher who some are calling Toronto’s ace of the future.

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Whether he eventually lives up to that steep billing or not, his big league debut is highly anticipated by a fanbase that understands the importance of an ace in their rotation. Reminiscent of the Roy Halladay era, Blue Jays fans can already envision a future in which the young hitters clobber opposing pitchers, then Pearson comes out and strikes out the side to get those sluggers right back to the plate. Could that scenario happen as soon as 2020? Absolutely.

If Pearson has a strong start to the season in Triple-A and can stay healthy, inevitable injuries to the Jays’ rotation will force Toronto’s hand and they’ll call him up by late July. Book it.

Whether it’s a more matured lineup, a deeper rotation or the emergence of star prospects, Jays fans have a lot more than just the new uniforms to get excited about in 2020.

What are you most excited about in 2020 for the Blue Jays? Which player do you have high expectations for? Let us know in the comments below.