The Toronto Blue Jays traded legitimate prospects to the Minnesota Twins in 2021 to get pitcher Jose Berrios.
The right-hander with the big curveball was not an ace, but qualified as a quality number two starter and those don’t grow on trees.
After posting a solid 3.58 ERA in 70.1 innings with Toronto in the second half of the 2021 campaign, everything went south in 2022.
Before the start of 2022 campaign, Berrios signed a seven-year, $131 million extension to stay in Toronto for a long time.
Command issues led to a 5.23 ERA in 172 frames last year.
He worked hard in the offseason and reported to spring training early, hoping to be in tip top shape for the 2023 campaign.
He has already started his first game of the year and it was…not good.
Against the lowly Kansas City Royals, the righty conceded eight earned runs in 5.2 innings.
He allowed nine hits and two walks.
The whole game was a struggle for him.
If he can’t dominate the Royals, one of the worst teams in the league, there isn’t much hope for him.
“This was arguably the cushiest season-opening assignment José Berríos could get, against the anonymous Kansas City Royals, and they’re absolutely teeing off on him. He has nothing. No stuff. No command. I have no idea what the Blue Jays do about him,” Jonah Birenbaum tweeted.
This was arguably the cushiest season-opening assignment José Berríos could get, against the anonymous Kansas City Royals, and they’re absolutely teeing off on him. He has nothing. No stuff. No command. I have no idea what the Blue Jays do about him.
— Jonah Birenbaum (@birenball) April 4, 2023
Of course, it’s just one game, but the fact his command is betraying him again is not particularly promising.
The Blue Jays hope he can right the ship soon, because they have committed a lot of resources over a lot of time to him.
