Nate Pearson

Nate Pearson

29-Year-Old PitcherRP
Houston Astros
15-Day IL
Injury Elbow
Est. Return 5/1/2026
2026 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
W-L
ERA
WHIP
K
SV
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2026 Fantasy Outlook
The hard-throwing righty was once one of the game's premier pitching prospects but has come nowhere close to living up to that potential. Now 29 years old, he owns a 5.17 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 156.2 career innings, most of which have come as as reliever. The Astros plan to give him a chance to start, and if they can somehow flip a switch to get him back to the guy he was prior to his big-league debut, he could be a possible deep sleeper. The much more likely outcome is that he winds up back in the bullpen, likely pitching in low-leverage. Read Past Outlooks
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RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#364
ADP
League Majors
Bats R
Throws R
40 Man Yes
Height 6'6"
Weight 255
DOB 8/20/1996
Born Odessa, FL
College Central Florida CC
Drafted 1st Rd 2017 TOR
Signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the Astros in October of 2025.
Faces hitters
PHouston Astros
Elbow
April 1, 2026
Pearson (elbow) has progressed to throwing a live batting practice session, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis
Pearson developed soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow a month ago and has been brought along slowly since then. That he's now facing hitters suggests a rehab assignment could be right around the corner. Pearson signed with the Astros over the offseason with the intent to be a starting pitcher, but his best path to a role right now is as a reliever.
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2026 MLB Game Log
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Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2024
 
 
-7%
BAA vs RHP
2026
No Stats
2025
 
 
-17%
BAA vs RHP
2024
 
 
-6%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2024vs Left .294 166 36 17 42 7 0 6
Since 2024vs Right .272 194 45 14 47 11 0 8
2026vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2026vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025vs Left .400 33 1 5 10 2 0 2
2025vs Right .333 42 6 5 12 2 0 0
2024vs Left .271 133 35 12 32 5 0 4
2024vs Right .255 152 39 9 35 9 0 8
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Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2024
 
 
-12%
ERA at Home
2026
No Stats
2025
 
 
-5%
ERA at Home
2024
 
 
-14%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2024Home 5.04 1.41 44.2 2 2 2 8.9 2.6 1.2
Since 2024Away 5.70 1.57 36.1 0 1 0 9.2 4.5 2.0
2026Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2026Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025Home 9.00 1.88 8.0 0 0 0 6.8 2.3 2.3
2025Away 9.45 2.55 6.2 0 1 0 1.4 10.8 0.0
2024Home 4.17 1.31 36.2 2 2 2 9.3 2.7 1.0
2024Away 4.85 1.35 29.2 0 0 0 10.9 3.0 2.4
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Prospect Rankings History
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Nate Pearson See More
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Nate Pearson See More
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Pearson has been on the scene for what seems like forever since being drafted in the first round of the 2017 draft. Yet, he has pitched just over 400 innings of professional baseball over that time due to multiple injuries, a pandemic and overall ineffectiveness. Pearson, through it all, can still bring the heat but often falls behind in counts and is forced to rely on that heat, which batters hunt with confidence. Pearson, when things are going right, is spinning breaking balls that are tough on hitters. The challenge has been that those moments were too infrequent, and the Jays decided to trade him to the Cubs near the deadline. The Cubs added a sinker to his pitch mix and helped him mechanically by allowing him to cut down on his walks, but the homers remain. Pearson has the fastball to work the late innings but lacks the rest of the skills necessary to be trusted in high-leverage situations with regularity. Reliever volatility is well-known, so anything is possible if his true talent level can ever be unlocked.
Pearson saw his most work in a major league season in 2023, throwing 42.2 innings and compiling a 4.85 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and striking out 43 batters. A one time top prospect, Pearson had better success at Triple-A Buffalo pitching 20.2 innings with a 1.74 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 15.15 K/9. Pearson hasn't been able to transition into a high leverage reliever with Toronto just yet, but he did remain healthy for the first time in 2023 throwing a career high in innings. The 27-year-old should break camp as part of the bullpen mix, likely being used in middle relief.
Pearson didn't pitch in the majors last season and was limited to just 15.1 innings in the minors thanks to a lengthy illness and lat strain. The former top prospect was slated to build up as a starter, but his delayed start due to mononucleosis shifted his focus to a bulk relief instead. Once healthy, Pearson was impressive during his rehab assignment, reaching 98-99 mph on the radar gun with 19 strikeouts. Unfortunately, he suffered the lat strain after just 13 appearances and the season was wrapping up by the time the right-hander was healthy enough to return. Pearson recently flashed his upside in the Dominican Winter League, posting 12 scoreless innings with a 16:4 K:BB and 0.75 WHIP. However, he's a perennial health risk and has yet to pitch more than 101.2 innings during any season, so temper your expectations for 2023.
After a flexor strain sidelined him in 2020, a core-muscle injury cost Pearson significant time in 2021, with the hard-throwing righty first experiencing the issue last spring before landing on the injured list again in June. Because of how the injury disrupted his buildup program, Pearson worked almost exclusively as a reliever, coming out of Toronto's bullpen in 11 of his 12 appearances while submitting a 4.20 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 15 innings. He recently underwent surgery to address the sports hernia, but Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said he should be fine for spring training without any disruptions. Toronto plans to have Pearson stretch back out for a starting role, but he'll still be forced to compete for a spot in the club's Opening Day rotation. He'll have a better shot if he refines his command (6.8 BB/9 for his career) and avoids the injuries that have plagued him the past two seasons.
Pearson has long stood out as an injury risk due to his age, profession (pitcher) and superfluous fastball velocity, and indeed, he suffered a flexor strain in his elbow after four starts in the majors. Fortunately, he did return, making one regular-season relief appearance before striking out five of six batters in his lone postseason appearance. He still carries a high risk of re-injury, but we can at least expect him to open the year in the MLB rotation. If there were no health concerns, he would be a nice buy-low option after a miserable statistical debut. His fastball velocity and wipeout slider are major strengths, while his changeup, curveball and command/control were major weaknesses against MLB hitters. Even the best pitching prospects can take a couple years to figure it out in the majors, so health/durability, not performance, remains the biggest long-term concern with Toronto's 6-foot-6 righty.
The crucial part of Pearson's season was an eight-start run to close the year split between Double-A and Triple-A, during which he had a 2.14 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 47:14 K:BB in 46.1 IP. Prior to this, he had been facing overmatched competition (six starts at High-A) or not working as a true starter -- he averaged 3.1 innings per outing in his first 11 starts at Double-A. In short, he passed the final exam and is one of the game's best pitching prospects. Pearson can touch triple digits with his fastball and has a plus slider, but his changeup needs some work. Injuries limited the 6-foot-6, 245-pound righty to just 42 pro innings prior to 2019, so crossing the 100-inning mark was a significant achievement. Keeping his weight in check will be important, and Pearson's velocity makes him a prime Tommy John surgery candidate, but all arrows are pointing up for now. He should spend most of 2020 in the MLB rotation.
Sometimes the mysterious carries more value in dynasty leagues than established commodities. For example, Pearson has thrown just 42 innings including the Arizona Fall League, yet looks the part of a frontline horse (6-foot-6, 245 pounds) and touched 104 mph in a one-inning outing with dozens of scouts watching at the 2018 Fall Stars game. The 28th overall pick in 2017, Pearson was seen as a lottery ticket, as he had not faced quality competition in junior college but had touched triple digits with his fastball. The selection looked brilliant when he dominated in short-season ball, but he missed the first month of 2018 with an oblique injury and missed the rest of the season after exiting his first start when a comebacker broke his ulna. Pearson's slider and changeup should be at least average offerings but his eventual command is unknown. His upside and flaws should come into focus if he stays healthy in his age-22 season.
The Blue Jays nabbed Pearson with the 28th overall pick in the 2017 draft, but if the draft were held again this offseason, he would go in the top 15. He was seen as a lottery ticket. Scouts liked his stuff, but coming out of a Central Florida junior college, he had not faced any high-end competition. Pearson threw one inning in the Gulf Coast League and was quickly promoted to the Northwest League where he displayed an elite fastball that can touch 100 mph and a potentially plus changeup. Never going more than four innings, he was able to carve up short-season hitters with ease on the strength of his fastball and changeup. He didn't give up a run over his first seven appearances and fanned 10 over four innings in his penultimate start of the year. The next step will be gaining more consistency with his slider -- his clear third pitch. If that comes along, he has the size (6-foot-6, 245 pounds) and potentially above-average command to anchor a big-league rotation.
More Fantasy News
Goes on 15-day IL
PHouston Astros
Elbow
March 25, 2026
The Astros placed Pearson (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis
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Throwing paused due to sore elbow
PHouston Astros
Elbow
March 3, 2026
Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that the team will "slow down" Pearson's throwing program after the pitcher felt soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow during his last bullpen session, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
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Still ramping up after surgery
PHouston Astros
Elbow
February 23, 2026
Pearson (elbow) is still in a velocity ramp-up progression and might not be ready for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
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Had offseason cleanup on elbow
PHouston Astros
February 13, 2026
Pearson underwent a cleanup procedure on his right elbow during the offseason but will throw a bullpen session Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
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Inks one-year deal with Astros
PHouston Astros
October 17, 2025
The Astros signed Pearson to a one-year, $1.35 million contract Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Hoping to start again
PToronto Blue Jays
July 20, 2024
Pearson wants to consider returning to a starting role in 2025, reports Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca.
Analysis
The likes of Jordan Hicks, Reynaldo Lopez and Garrett Crochet have made the successful transition from the bullpen to the rotation this season, and Pearson hopes he'll be able to follow a similar path. The 27-year-old righty was one of Toronto's top prospects but has a rough injury history, which resulted in him being shifted to the bullpen the past two seasons. Pearson hasn't exactly excelled in relief this year with a 5.54 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 50:15 K:BB across 37.1 innings, but the encouraging news is he's been able to stay healthy after also doing so in 2023. Two straight healthy campaigns could be enough for the Blue Jays to consider stretching him back out as a starter.
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