Blue Jays Prospect Nolan Perry Looked Untouchable in Double-A Debut

[Cory Sparks]

When you have an electric talent, it’s important to set them up for success. In the case of Jays Centre's No. 8 prospect, Nolan Perry, the blueprint for success is one of rapid progression.

Perry is already pitching for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats after starting the season in Single-A, and he just logged a remarkable Double-A debut on June 30. As a broadcaster for the opposing team that day, the Reading Fightin Phils, I was blown away by his performance. Let’s dive into Perry’s journey, his arsenal and when to expect the Jays’ up-and-comer to debut. 

Nolan Perry’s Background

Perry was a 12th-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, as Toronto selected the Texas Tech commit right out of high school and signed him for $200,000. The now 22-year-old right-handed pitcher features a well-rounded arsenal, and he would likely be further along in his professional journey if not for a torn UCL during the 2024 campaign. This sidelined Perry for all of last season, leaving questions pertaining to how quickly he could return to his original form. 

Rapid Ascension

Fast forward to the 2026 season, and Perry is playing at his third level of affiliated ball just past the halfway point of the schedule. The righty appeared in five games, starting in four, for the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays and logged a 1.71 earned run average with a ridiculous 0.67 WHIP over 21.0 innings of work. He produced more of the same with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, putting up a 3-3 record with a 3.23 earned run average and 46 punchouts in 30.2 frames.

A Spectacular Double-A Debut

That performance earned Perry his second promotion through just the first three months of the 2026 season, and I had the opportunity to broadcast his first Double-A start with the Fisher Cats. The first word that comes to mind after seeing him firsthand? He’s steady. A fastball that once lived in the 92-93 mph range was up a couple of ticks on the evening, and he finished his day with seven punchouts over three innings of shutout baseball. Perry peeled off a sharp, lateral-moving slider to supplement his mid-90s four-seamer, and it was arguably his best pitch. 

The 22-year-old was also effectively burying a splitter into the dirt, and after walking a pair of batters in the first inning, he looked in control against a lineup that featured three of the Phillies’ top 30 prospects (per MLB Pipeline). Perry utilized the curveball on occasion, but everything had intention. He consistently had opposing hitters guessing the wrong pitch, starting some at-bats off with breaking balls and even pitching backwards, with his firm fastball occasionally serving as the finisher.

Controlling the New Weapons

While the rising fastball velocity and ability to effectively mix the four-pitch arsenal are promising signs, the former Red Raiders commit did struggle with wavering command. He tossed 59 pitches in three innings and found himself in a cluster of three-ball counts, especially early on. It isn’t a groundbreaking discovery that someone with good stuff could occasionally struggle with locating it, but with fellow top pitching prospects like the Phillies' Gage Wood noting that the strike zone does shrink down in Double-A, it’s important for Perry to find the boundary. 

When Will Perry Reach the Majors?

When will Perry rise up to the major leagues, and what will his role be? Considering he is still working back from a torn UCL, is on a pitch count and is a pair of levels away from the big leagues, I’d say 2027 is the right estimate for him to fill a starting role. Blue Jays No. 6 prospect Gage Stanifer is much further along in his development, generating a 4.29 ERA and 84 strikeouts over 65 innings in Double-A this year, so I’d assume he has promotional priority. If Perry were to convert to a reliever at any point, his timeline could be accelerated. 

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