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Since entering the professional ranks as a first-round draft pick in 2022, Barriera has struggled to stay on the mound, notably missing most of the 2024 and 2025 seasons while recovering from a hybrid Tommy John and internal brace surgery and then fracturing his forearm last August. He's already had two separate stints on the IL in 2026 and hasn't been effective when available for Dunedin. Over 10 outings in the Florida State League, Barriera has submitted a 6.65 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 22:17 K:BB over 23 innings.
The 22-year-old southpaw has had an injury-ravaged start to his career after being selected 23rd overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, pitching just five combined innings in 2024 and 2025 due to hybrid Tommy John/internal brace surgery in April 2024 and then a fractured forearm last August. Barriera still has plenty of time to get back on track and re-establish himself as a prospect, but a goal in 2026 will be proving he can stay on the mound and build up reps and innings.
Barriera is finally ready to pitch in games again after undergoing a hybrid Tommy John/internal brace procedure on his left elbow last April. The 2022 first-round pick has thrown only 21.2 innings in pro ball due to arm problems and is likely to eventually be assigned to Single-A Dunedin as he looks to re-establish himself.
A first-round pick in 2022, Barriera underwent a hybrid Tommy John/internal brace procedure on his elbow in April 2024, and arm issues have limited him to just 23.2 innings since he made his pro debut. The 21-year-old southpaw was touching 97 mph with his fastball prior to last year's surgery however, and if he can stay healthy he's still young enough to begin re-establishing his status as a prospect. Barriera's multiple rehabs have also had the side benefit of re-shaping his body. "This is about as good physically as he's looked since we've had him," Blue Jays director of player development Joe Sclafani said toward the end of spring training. "Obviously, he got bigger and then tapered it back. Physically, he's in a really good spot. Mentally, he's in a really good spot. He's trending in a really good direction. We're excited."
More specifically, Heisler notes that Barriera underwent a traditional Tommy John surgery along with an internal brace procedure. Though an internal brace procedure alone typically entails a 9-to-12-month recovery for pitchers compared to a 12-to-16-month recovery for Tommy John surgery, it's unclear what sort of timeline Barriera might be looking at with a fusion of the two surgeries. In any event, Barriera won't be available until at least next spring, slowing the development of one of the top young arms in the Blue Jays farm system.