The Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen will get a boost when right-hander Nate Pearson returns from injury.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the 24-year-old rookie will pitch in relief instead of as a starter when he recovers from a flexor strain that's sidelined him for three weeks.
"It's much more likely that he's being used out of the bullpen at this point," Atkins said Wednesday on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.
Atkins added that "the most flexible and realistic route" for Pearson is for him to be used in an extended relief role since he won't have enough time to get "built up" to start.
Pearson threw a bullpen session Saturday and is expected to return before the end of the season.
Toronto's bullpen has accrued a league-leading 3.1 WAR this season, according to FanGraphs. The addition of Pearson, whose fastball has topped out at 104 mph, would give the Blue Jays another hard-throwing option for a relief corps that's also expected to get back Ken Giles from injury in the near future.
Pearson made four starts this season. Toronto's top pitching prospect struggled to a 6.61 ERA with 12 walks and five home runs allowed in 16 1/3 innings.
He's never pitched out of the bullpen during his professional career.
