Perry Selected for Futures All-Star Game

By Don Eskins

Former Cavemen hurler Nolan Perry, selected in the 12th round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, has been promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

But for Perry, the good news doesn’t end there. On July 1, as a result of his continued growth and stellar play, Toronto’s No. 3 MLB prospect and MLB’s 100th was selected to participate in the 2026 Futures All-Star Game set to take place in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 12.

The game, part of this year’s MLB All-Star extravaganza, will get underway at noon (ET) and will be televised on NBC and Peacock TV.

No doubt, in Carlsbad, Perry’s family and friends couldn’t be more excited.

“We are excited. In just four short years, he’s battled hard, overcome adversity, and experienced great success,” said Nolan’s father, Tim. “Things are really beginning to come together for him, and we couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Although the July 12 weekend will be a big one for Nolan, his ride for a shot at playing in the majors has been a rocky one.

Overcoming Adversity

Perry, a 6’2” right-hander, spent his first professional summer, 2023, in the Florida Complex League.

In 2024, he moved up to play for the Class-A Blue Jays in Dunedin, FL. However, while experiencing a successful run in Dunedin, a site where he posted a record of 1-1 with an ERA of 2.93, he developed an injury to his elbow.

As a result of the injury, Perry had to undergo Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the rest of the 2024 season and all of 2025.

“Being out of baseball for about a year-and-a-half was tough, but he handled it great,” said his father. “It gave him time to reset, and once he began to throw again, he worked extremely hard to get back on the field.

“Now healthy and playing at 100 percent, he’s doing very well,” he said. “It’s been fun getting to watch him play again. He’s been very blessed.”

Back on the mound, Perry, who throws a four-seam fastball, knuckle curve, slider, and split-finger change-up, has regained command of his pitches and is hitting his spots.

But, as with many other Tommy John success stories, something else very positive has developed for him on the mound.

“Prior to his surgery, Nolan was throwing about 93-94 miles per hour,” said his father. “Following surgery, his fastball is up to 95-96. While on the mound, it’s been a definite plus for him.”

Riding A Wave of Success

Back on the field, Nolan began the year playing for the Low-A Dunedin Blue Jays, but on May 3, he was quickly promoted to the Class High-A Vancouver Canadians. As a result of his efforts in Vancouver, he was moved up to play for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats at the end of May.

Since returning to the mound, across three levels of minor league baseball, he’s accumulated a combined ERA of just 2.47 and a WHIP of 1.81 while striking out 85 in just 57.2 innings.

Now a minor league All-Star, the future appears to be bright once again for the former Caveman who led Carlsbad High to a state championship in 2022, posted a 10.1 record with an ERA of 0.41, and was selected as the New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year.

Just how far Nolan rides his most recent wave of success is yet to be written. One thing is certain, though: Carlsbad fans will be watching and hoping it won’t end until he pencils his name on a Toronto Blue Jays roster.