When the Blue Jays traded the reliever Nate Pearson came to the Cubs and said goodbye to his teammates, they responded with “See you in (three) weeks.”
Although his tenure with the Blue Jays did not go as he had imagined, Pearson still looks back and is grateful for the time.
On Saturday at Wrigley Field, Pearson, who the Blue Jays selected 28th in the 2017 MLB Draft, said the transfer was still fresh for him.
“I was 23 when I debuted (with the Blue Jays),” Pearson said. “I was just a young guy. (I’ve) matured and come here (to the Cubs) with a little more experience.”
In part due to two rain stoppages totaling 55 minutes, Pearson pitched two innings and earned the win against his former team. He allowed no runs, one hit, two walks and one strikeout in the Cubs’ 3-2 victory.
Pearson struggled during his time with the Blue Jays, posting a 5.21 ERA in 115⅔ of his career innings with them because he struggled with the mental side of the game.
“You can have all the skills in the world, but if you are not mentally prepared every day, you will not get good results on the field,” he said.
What plagued Pearson with the Blue Jays was a lack of confidence. He said it was hard to rely on his abilities as a young reliever against seasoned veterans.
“I’ve learned to just believe in myself,” Pearson said. “I feel like every day it’s about who has more confidence in their abilities. Just go out there and be successful. You can’t go out there with doubt or fear.”
Players weekend
During MLB Players’ Weekend, players can show their personalities more than usual.
Corner Infielder Patrick Wisdom had his daughters customize a pair of gloves that he will wear on Sunday. Mishellea patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, designed a pair of white gloves with flowers on them, which he wore on Friday.
The Cubs also designed a pair of cleats for Wisdom. One features Anna and Elsa from the movie “Frozen” because the film is his daughters’ favorite. The other reads “Wisdom Wine,” complete with miniature wine corks on the laces. Wisdom became fascinated with the winemaking process during the pandemic.
Wisdom has three children: Molly, Claire And JackFor him, this weekend is about making them feel like they are part of his workplace and giving them a better insight into his work.
“When you bring them here or have them do things like, ‘Hey, I’m going to put on the cleats you drew or the gloves or the bat,’ they kind of feel like they’re a part of it,” Wisdom said. “They understand it better.”
Pete’s winning streak is over
Midfielder Pete Crow Armstrong was caught stealing for the first time this season, ending his streak of 23 consecutive successful attempts.
