This may not be all that shocking coming from someone who makes their living at stand up comedy, but in elementary school I was a clown. I was the kid who was constantly being accused by the teachers of being a distraction to others (in those teachers defence, I was ABSOLUTELY a constant distraction to others as I did everything I could to get a laugh). When a teacher became fed up with my shenanigans I would be sent out into the hallway.
If you were never a “hallway kid”, let me tell you, it was the worst. You still had to do everything the class was doing but on your own and out of sight. In a lot ways rehabbing from an injury in baseball is a lot like being relegated out into the hallway. You are removed from your team, friends and left to your own devices to stay motivated and get your work done. It’s lonely, it’s frustrating and it’s a mental battle.
No one in this Blue Jays organization has had more bad luck when it comes to staying healthy than Eric Pardinho. The Brazilian pitcher who was the top pitching prospect in the international free agent draft back in 2017 was signed by the Jays as a 16 year old for $1.4 million. He was highly touted and ranked as high as the #5 prospect in the Blue Jays system back in 2019. In 2020 at 19 he underwent Tommy John Surgery. When he returned in 2021 he was sidelined for the first half of that season with elbow issues, and since coming back from that was shut down for the season with a lower back injury.
With all his injuries, the organization in 2022 decided to convert Pardinho from a starter to a reliever, and it didn’t come easy. During both 2022 and 2023 he struggled with his control, allowing far too many walks and giving up hits in the least opportune times (Sporting an unsexy WHIP of 1.61 combined between the two seasons). However, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, Pardinho has put himself back on the radar and now finds himself as one of the top high leverage options in the AAA Buffalo Bisons bullpen.
Pardinho who started the season with AA New Hampshire out of spring training went 17 innings in a row without allowing a run before getting the call up to Buffalo June 18.
I had a chance to talk with Eric before the game today about being back playing the game he loves. All the rehabbing “its a little lonely” he said smiling, obviously very pleased to be back on a ball diamond, healthy and performing well. “When you are in rehab you just really miss playing baseball, all you’re doing is lifting for strength. Every day is the same thing”.
Between AA and AAA Pardinho is sporting an impressive stat line. Over 29.1 innings he has 38 K’s, a 1.09 WHIP and an ERA of 2.15. He still has some maturing and experience to gain in Buffalo. However, for the first time in years Eric Pardinho has pitched his way back into the conversation of being a future Blue Jay. He’s out of the hallway and been welcomed back into the class.
