Eric Pardinho

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Eric Pardinho

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| team = Toronto Blue Jays

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| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|1|5}}

| birth_place = Lucélia, São Paulo, Brazil

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

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| statleague = MLB

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Eric Eiji Tanuguchi Pardinho (born January 5, 2001) is a Brazilian professional baseball pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Professional career

Pardinho was ranked by MLB as the fifth-best international prospect available during the 2017 international signing period. On July 2, 2017, Pardinho signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and received a $1.4 million signing bonus.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/top-international-prospects-sign-on-july-2-c239881502|title=International signing day: Top prospect tracker|last=Sanchez|first=Jesse|work=MLB.com|date=July 2, 2017|access-date=December 3, 2017}} He was assigned to extended spring training for the remainder of the year, as well as the first half of the 2018 season. On June 20, 2018, Pardinho made his professional debut with the rookie–level Bluefield Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=http://www.bdtonline.com/sports/three-hitter-wasted-nobody-from-bluefield-messes-with-dejesus-in/article_285548c6-750a-11e8-9e86-e777a44ad953.html|title=Three-hitter wasted: Nobody from Bluefield messes with DeJesus in 2-0 defeat|last=Woodson|first=Brian|work=bdtonline.com|date=June 21, 2018|access-date=June 21, 2018}} In 11 starts for Bluefield, he posted a 4-3 record and 2.88 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 50 innings. Pardinho split the 2019 campaign between the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays and Single-A Lansing Lugnuts, accumulating a 2-1 record and 2.15 ERA with 35 strikeouts over {{fraction|37|2|3}} innings pitched across 8 games (7 starts).{{Cite web|title=Jays' Pardinho has Tommy John surgery|url=https://www.milb.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-prospect-eric-pardinho-undergoes-tommy-john-312731162|access-date=January 26, 2025|website=milb.com|language=en}}

On February 11, 2020, Pardinho underwent Tommy John surgery and was ruled out for the entirety of the 2020 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-pitching-prospect-eric-pardinho-undergoes-tommy-john-surgery/|title=Blue Jays pitching prospect Eric Pardinho undergoes Tommy John surgery|work=Sportsnet|date=February 11, 2020|access-date=February 11, 2020}} The 2020 minor league season was ultimately cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=December 20, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} and he made two rehabilitation appearances for the rookie–level Florida Complex League Blue Jays in 2021. Pardinho split the 2022 season between the High-A Vancouver Canadians, Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, and FCL Blue Jays, accumulating a 3-0 record and 5.70 ERA with 42 strikeouts across 30 innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Eric Pardinho - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/eric-pardinho/sa968102/stats?position=P|access-date=February 1, 2025|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} He returned to Vancouver for the 2023 season, registering a 2-2 record and 7.15 ERA with 61 strikeouts across 35 appearances.{{Cite web|title=Eric Pardinho Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/7229-eric-pardinho/stats/|access-date=February 1, 2025|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}

Pardinho split the 2024 campaign between the Double–A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Triple–A Buffalo Bisons. In 45 appearances out of the bullpen for the two affiliates, he compiled a 2–1 record and 3.25 ERA with 66 strikeouts across {{fraction|55|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays pitcher Eric Pardinho set to represent Brazil at World Baseball Classic Qualifier in March|url=https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-pitcher-eric-pardinho-set-to-represent-brazil-at-world-baseball-classic-qualifer-in-march|access-date=January 26, 2025|website=bluejaysnation.com|language=en}} Pardinho elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2024|work=Baseball America|date=November 6, 2024|accessdate=November 6, 2024|first=Matt|last=Eddy}}

On December 20, 2024, Pardinho re–signed with the Blue Jays on a minor league contract.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays sign Pardinho, Lauer, Sanchez to minor league deals|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-sign-pardinho-lauer-and-sanchez-to-minor-league-deals/|access-date=December 20, 2024|website=sportsnet.ca|language=en}}

International career

As a 15-year-old, Pardinho played for Brazil in their attempt to qualify for the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He pitched {{frac|2|3}} of an inning against Pakistan, and his fastball was clocked as high as {{convert|94|mph}} in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/19668967/eric-pardinho-brazil-first-million-dollar-arm|title=Meet Brazil's Most Valuable Arm|last=Matz|first=Eddie|work=espn.com|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=December 3, 2017}}

At the 2023 Pan American Games, Pardinho was on Brazil's silver-medal winning team. In three games, he pitched four innings and allowed zero earned runs.{{cite web |title=Santiago 2023 Pitching Stats - Brazil |url=https://www.wbscamericas.org/en/events/xix-pan-american-games-santiago-2023-mens-baseball/stats/general/team/27723/all/pitching |website=WBSCamericas.org |publisher=WBSC |access-date=13 December 2024}}