For a pitcher who had thrown only 1.2 innings the previous season and barely 20 minor league innings, there was a ton hype surrounding Nate Pearson heading into the season.
After breaking his forearm early in 2018, Pearson was able to return in time to pitch during the Arizona Fall League, a showcase league with baseball’s top prospects, and that’s where the hype train took off. Despite an inflated ERA, he was getting swings and misses and firing missiles from the mound reaching up to 104 mph, leading to the starting gig for the West in the AFL All-Star Game.