Another tough break for Blue Jays' prospect just as he was getting back on track

"On Saturday (May 16), Barriera was officially put on the seven-day, minor league IL after he left a start early on May 13. In the third inning of that game while pitching for the Blue Jays' Single-A affiliate in Dunedin, Barriera appeared to tweak his back or his side on what was his 49th pitch of the night. Barriera was visibly frustrated and after knowing his history it's hard to blame him."

"Taken with the No. 23 overall pick, Barriera was expected to be, at this point, making some sort of an impact with the big league club. Instead, the Blue Jays have had to watch Barriera restart from scratch over and over again. Barriera has spent more time recovering than progressing since being drafted."

"When the Blue Jays originally drafted and signed Barriera to a $3.5 million signing bonus, the buzz around him was real. But thanks to a barrage of injuries, including Tommy John Surgery in 2024, Barriera had thrown less than 30 innings of professional baseball coming into 2026. Looking to use this year as budling block, Barriera and the Blue Jays were optimistic that the 22-year-old could regain what made him so tantalizing four years earlier."

"And when Spring Training began, Barrier was touching 98 mph with his fastball on the back fields in Dunedin. That was enough to get him into game action and begin, what was going to hopefully be a full season of pitching for Barriera in Single-A, and maybe even moving up a level or two if his stuff held up. His first 17 innings brought a mixed bag."

Brandon Barriera, a Toronto Blue Jays prospect and former first-round pick, was placed on the seven-day minor league injured list after leaving a start early. The injury appeared to involve his back or side during the third inning on May 13, after he threw his 49th pitch. Barriera was selected 23rd overall and signed for a $3.5 million bonus, with expectations that he would contribute at the major league level by now. Instead, injuries have repeatedly forced him to restart development. He entered 2026 having thrown fewer than 30 professional innings, including time lost to Tommy John surgery in 2024. Early in the season he showed velocity, but results have been inconsistent, with some encouraging outings mixed with poor command and run prevention.

Read at Jays Journal