Brandon Barriera Explained

Brandon Barriera
Team:Toronto Blue Jays
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:4 March 2004
Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Left

Brandon Joshua Barriera (born March 4, 2004) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He is ranked 5th on Major League Baseball's 2024 Top 30 Blue Jays prospects list.[1]

Amateur career

Barriera was born in Brooklyn, New York and lived there until he and his family moved to Coconut Creek, Florida, when he was six years old.[2] He grew up a New York Yankees fan.[3]

As an amateur, Barriera played for USA Baseball twice, once on their 12U National Team and once on their 15U National Team in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, where he helped lead Team USA to a Gold Medal.[4] [5] He attended American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida.[6] In 2019, he committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University.[7] Barriera pitched only 16 innings as a junior in 2021, but did not surrender a run while striking out 26 batters.[8] That summer, he played in the High School All-American Game at Coors Field.[9] Barriera entered his senior season in 2022 as a top prospect for the upcoming draft.[10] [11] He ended his season in mid-April after starting eight games, going 5-0 with a 2.27 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 37 innings.[12] [13] [14] Barriera chose to end his season early in order to avoid injury and to prepare for the draft.[15] In June, he traveled to San Diego where he participated in the Draft Combine.[16]

Professional career

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Barriera in the first round with the 23rd overall selection of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.[17] He signed with the team for $3.6 million.[18] [19]

Barriera made his professional debut in 2023 with the Dunedin Blue Jays and also played for the Florida Complex League Blue Jays.[20] Barriera started seven games and went 0-2 with a 3.98 ERA and 25 strikeouts, missing time during the season due to elbow and bicep injuries.[21]

Barriera made one start for Dunedin in 2024, allowing two runs on two hits in innings pitched. On April 29, 2024, Barriera underwent a hybrid Tommy John and internal brace procedure, ending his season.[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MLB 2024 Prospect Watch. MLB.com. August 7, 2024.
  2. Web site: A Classic culmination for Barriera. Jeff. Dahn. August 10, 2021. Perfect Game USA.
  3. Web site: Brandon Barriera is chasing his dreams to be a major league pitcher. Michelle. Solomon. March 16, 2020. Lifestyle Media Group.
  4. Web site: Local baseball players help USA National U-15 team win gold in Mexico. Emmett. Hall. October 13, 2019. Sun-Sentinel.
  5. Web site: USA Baseball 12U domination: Four games, three no-hitters. August 3, 2016. USA Today.
  6. Web site: MLB Draft prospect Brandon Barriera is producing eye-opening curveball spin rates as he climbs up the draft boards. Maria. Torres. March 18, 2022. The Athletic.
  7. Web site: Calvary Christian, Douglas and American Heritage. February 9, 2021. Miami Herald.
  8. Web site: 2022 Preseason MaxPreps All-America high school baseball team. Kevin. Askeland. February 2, 2022. MaxPreps.
  9. Web site: Roman Anthony, Brandon Barriera to play in this week's High School All-American baseball game. Adam. Lichtenstein. July 6, 2021. Sun-Sentinel.
  10. Web site: 2022 MLB Draft prospect watch: How a South Florida lefty found his form to become one of the class's best starting pitchers. Maria. Torres. December 23, 2021. The Athletic.
  11. Web site: Treasure Coast area baseball preview: Teams, games, players to watch in 2022. Bryan. Cooney. February 22, 2022. Treasure Coast Newspapers.
  12. Web site: Barriera 'in a good position' with more velo as Draft nears . .
  13. Web site: 2022 PBR DRAFT BOARD - MAY UPDATE. May 16, 2022. Prep Baseball Report.
  14. Web site: Prospects weigh risks as injuries strike the heart of the MLB Draft pitching class. April 27, 2022. Maria. Torres. The Athletic.
  15. Web site: How one pitching prospect could change the MLB draft forever -- by not pitching . 14 June 2022 .
  16. Web site: Everything you need to know: Draft Combine . .
  17. Web site: Toronto Blue Jays pick Vanderbilt baseball signee Brandon Barriera in 2022 MLB Draft . .
  18. Web site: Brock Jones signs with Tampa Bay . 26 July 2022 .
  19. Web site: Blue Jays sign 18 draft picks, including first-rounder Brandon Barriera .
  20. Web site: Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Dazzles in pro debut . 8 May 2023 .
  21. Web site: Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Likely done for season . 24 August 2023 .
  22. Web site: Blue Jays Prospect Brandon Barriera Undergoes Season-Ending Elbow Surgery. April 29, 2024. mlbtraderumors.com. 29 April 2024 . en.

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