"In his first outing of 2024, a season where by most accounts, he looked great, Barriera suffered an elbow injury and required Tommy John surgery. That ended his season, and he made just five starts in 2025 before a fractured forearm derailed his season."
"The fastball sits 96-98 mph, great velocity for a lefty. Add in the fact that he has an above-average slider and an average changeup, and there's potential to be at least a middle-of-the-rotation starter."
"Some publications still consider the 22-year-old lefty a top prospect. In their pre-season rankings, MLB Pipeline ranked him as the 22nd-best Blue Jays prospect, and it's not hard to see why as the potential is still there."
The Blue Jays' 2022 draft class has struggled compared to their strong 2020 and 2021 drafts, which produced first-round picks Arjun Nimmala, Trey Yesavage, and JoJo Parker. While later-round selections like Josh Kasevich and Gage Stanifer show promise, first-round pick Brandon Barriera has encountered significant setbacks. The 22-year-old lefty suffered Tommy John surgery in 2024 after an elbow injury and a fractured forearm in 2025. Despite these injuries, Barriera retains prospect status with a 96-98 mph fastball, above-average slider, and average changeup, positioning him as a potential middle-of-the-rotation starter if he can maintain health.
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