C’s Chat – 2026 Vancouver Canadians RHP #35 Carson Pierce – C's Plus Baseball

C’s Chat shines the spotlight on 2024 and 2026 Vancouver Canadians pitcher Carson Pierce.

A 2020 graduate of Edmond North High School in his hometown of Edmond, Oklahoma, Pierce stayed in the Sooner State to attend Seminole State College, the same place Canadian-born major league reliever Éric Gagné pitched. Pierce split his two decisions with a 3.18 earned run average, one save and 12 strikeouts in 17 innings for the Trojans in 2021. He finished the year with the Amarillo Sod Squad of the Texas Collegiate League where he struck out 18 batters in 15 innings. He transferred to Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas in 2022 and won five of six decisions while striking out 58 batters in 41⅓ innings.

Pierce returned to his home state for Division I ball with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023. Carson’s father Cliff Pierce and his older brother Griffin Pierce also went to Oklahoma where they excelled in golf. Clifford was a two-time NAIA All-American golfer at Cameron University in Lawton before going to Oklahoma and played in the 1984 Masters Tournament while Griffin had a distinguished career on the links as a Sooner.

On the mound, Carson posted a 2-1 record, a 4.18 ERA, one save and 21 strikeouts in 28 innings. After his season in Norman, Pierce joined the Amsterdam Mohawks of the Perfect Game Collegiate League where he struck out 19 batters in 20 innings and recorded a 1.81 ERA. He then caught on with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod League and fanned seven batters in 10⅓ innings.

The Toronto Blue Jays would sign Pierce as a free agent on August 4, 2023, and would assign him to the Florida Complex League where he would pitch four innings over three appearances. A promotion to Dunedin followed on August 23 where he would strike out 11 batters in another trio of appearances covering 7⅓ innings.

In 2024, Pierce was back with the Dunedin Blue Jays but he did not stay there for long. An April 9 appearance against the Tampa Tarpons in which he struck out four batters over two innings to earn a hold was the highlight of the month in which he posted a 2.77 ERA. He was promoted to Vancouver on May 11 and began his Northwest League tenure with back-to-back shutout innings, including striking out the side at Spokane on May 15. A move to the starting rotation ensued in early June where he ended the month with 3⅔ innings of one-run ball at Hillsboro on June 28. Pierce toggled between the starting rotation and the bullpen in July where he ended the month with five shutout frames and five strikeouts at Hillsboro on July 28, bringing his monthly ERA down to 1.13.

Disaster struck on August 11 when he had to leave the game due to injury when the C’s hosted the Eugene Emeralds. After striking out current major leaguer Bryce Eldridge, Pierce exited the game moments afterwards with an elbow injury. That led to Tommy John surgery which forced him to miss the entire 2025 campaign.

Still, Baseball America lauded Pierce’s efforts by ranking him as the 37th-best prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays system heading into 2025. Geoff Pontes also praised Pierce about his changeup.

“Pierce’s changeup was arguably the most interesting individual pitch I saw on the backfields this spring. It’s a screwball-like changeup, not dissimilar from Devin Williams‘ “airbender.” Pierce spins the pitch at 2400-2500 rpms creating drop (one inch of induced vertical break) and 22 inches of horizontal break on average. With a lower three-quarters arm slot, the pitch comes out of the hand at a horizontal angle making it look like a breaking ball out of the hand before it downshifts and runs hard to the armside. The pitch consistently followed opposing batters and led to plenty of ugly swings. If Pierce can build on his current fastball velocity he has a chance to develop into an effective relief option in time.”

The 2026 season represented a new beginning for Pierce as he is back again with Monty’s Mounties. He marked his return with a shutout inning and two strikeouts at Tri-City on April 5 and got the win with 2⅓ shutout innings and three punchouts at Spokane on April 15. On May 1, he was credited with another victory after three strikeouts over three scoreless stanzas against Hillsboro. On May 8, Pierce got the W again with two shutout frames and one whiff at Eugene. He completed the month with a 2.70 ERA.

Pierce’s next outing is to be determined as he was placed on the seven-day injured list retroactive to June 6.

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C’s Plus Baseball caught up with the 24-year-old Pierce during the team’s homestand against Eugene in late May. This interview has been edited for clarity.

C’s Plus Baseball – Carson, you signed as a free agent out of Oklahoma. How did that all come about?

Carson Pierce – So, initially I was in Somerville in New York. And the plan was to go to Cape Cod, hopefully before the draft. See if I can get my name out there a little more. That ended up not happening. So, I spent a little longer in New York. And then I was eventually able to go down to Cape Cod probably a week after the draft. My first outing I threw well and talked to the Blue Jays after that. And they were like, ‘We’ll just look at you for one more outing. And then we’ll decide pretty much.’ And so I threw my next outing. And, yeah, after that a week went by. Went back to New York. Just kind of sat around and they called me and offered me (a deal). And I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll take it.’

CPB – What was it like pitching in the Cape Cod League? You were with Amsterdam in New York before. I know Cape Cod is kind of considered the most well-known or prominent league in summer college ball.

CP – Yeah, it was a bunch of fun. Like in the Cape, you know, like you said, all the good hitters go there. So it was good to challenge myself, see what I could do with them. And I think I did fairly well. I feel like it was a good step to prepare for pro ball in a way. Just being able to face that level of talent. But it was fun overall. Great summer league.

CPB – I know you’ve been with a couple other summer college teams. What was summer ball like for you? I guess the main thing is you more or less get to play every day.

CP – Yeah, just playing every day. I mean, definitely like all the coaches I’ve been around there, they’ve definitely helped me with a few things, whether it be like new pitch development, like mechanic-wise. Just being able to learn a lot from the coaches and also the players. Just meeting new guys, it’s just pretty cool to do. Just see how everyone else kind of, I guess, functions around other parts of the U.S.

CPB – You started out in Edmond North High School. Take us through the timeline to how you got here today with the Canadians.

CP – Okay, so I didn’t really have many offers out of high school. A couple of JUCOs (junior colleges). I like threw pretty hard, but I had no idea where the ball was going. So I ended up going to a JUCO in Oklahoma called Seminole State. Played a year there. Was pretty successful. A lot of my buddies went to another junior college in Kansas called Cowley County. So I decided to transfer over there. I threw pretty good. Had some offers. Chose OU because my Dad and brother went there. And after that, I had an alright season at OU. Then after that, I decided to go play at Somerville. And I already had an agent at the time, and he was telling me, like, ‘Yeah, we’ll get you in the Cape at some point.’ And so after, like, a month in New York, I was able to go to the Cape, and that’s where the Blue Jays saw me.

CPB – What was the process like getting introduced to everybody in Dunedin?

CP – It was really, it was a lot. Just a lot of new faces, a lot of new people. I’m a pretty shy guy when it comes to meeting new people. I open up quite a bit after a while. But, yeah, just being there and meeting all the guys is cool. Playing in the FCL in Dunedin is kind of a cool experience in all the levels. Just a bunch of fun, good baseball, honestly.

CPB – Who did you hit it off with right away as far as your new teammates went?

CP – The first dude to come up to me was probably Grant Rogers. I talked to him for a while, and there was, like, everyone from that class. After I met Grant, I kind of became friends with all of them. But the main three was, Kelena Sauer, who just got promoted. I was in rehab with him for a year or two, so we became close. And then Kai Peterson and Connor O’Halloran. We were pretty good friends up here.

CPB – So you get to the Player Development Complex. What was that like getting introduced to all that technology?

CP – It was quite a bit. I mean, the pitching facility I go to, we have a lot of good stuff. But I think they just go a lot more in-depth here, just like the amount of coaches here able to help you and stuff. So I learned quite a bit. I know when I first got here, I was pretty, like, side-armed, which is not who I am. So then, my next year, we kind of fixed that, and we noticed the stuff stayed pretty similar, if not better. But the velo went up with anything we worked with. So now it would be in, like, three-quarter slot-ish. I think it just, like, developed me quite a bit.

CPB – Talk about your pitch mix and how would you rank them.

CP – Four-seam, sinker, changeup, sweeper and a cutter slider-ish thing. That’s kind of been a work in progress, just figuring that out, with the cutter, just something a little harder that goes to the left. How would I rank them? I’d probably go change-up first, then probably sinker, sweeper, and then four-seam, and then probably cutter.

CPB – How do you go about trying to keep all those pitches sharp?

CP – I think in catch-play, I always try, especially, the change-up. Like, that’s my go-to pitch, so I definitely prioritize that the most, and I’ll throw that a lot more than any other pitch And, once I bring it into, like, 60 feet during catch-play, I’ll spin everything and then hopefully touch the mound before the game and just feel out each pitch. Like, I don’t try and overdo it. If I throw, like, one or two good ones, I’m like, ‘That’s good for the day.’

CPB – How do you go about employing your pitch mix? I know it has to do with scouting reports and all that, but how do you feel your pitch mix works for you when you’re out in the mound?

CP – I think when everything’s, like, in zone, it works really well. If I’m able to land change-ups for strikes, like, it opens everything else up. And I think the catchers know what they’re talking about, so I kind of put my trust in them to know what to throw. I mean, my only job, I feel like, on the mound is just get in the box, and the catchers will help with the rest, which is nice.

CPB – So you get here to Vancouver in 2024. Before you went to Dunedin, what was that experience like pitching at the Florida State League, and is it a big difference pitching now in the Northwest League?

CP – Pitching in Dunedin, it was hot. That’s the one thing. It was hot. I think I struggled quite a bit there. I know before I got called up, I didn’t have too good of a game, so it was kind of surprising. I was like, ‘Oh, hey, I got called up.’ But when I got up here, I think it got better. Like, I got better. I don’t know if I just played up to the competition per se or what, but I don’t think there’s a huge difference. As long as you’re just competing in the zone and just being aggressive. I think you’ll turn out fine.

CPB – And it seemed like things were really going your way. They were stretching you out. You had one five-inning outing that went really well. What do you remember about that game?

CP – Oh, that was a cool game. I know I was kind of the sixth starter in the rotation. I was really not a starter, I’d say. If I got three for us, like, that was good. Or I got through three pretty smoothly, and they were like, ‘You good for another?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m good.’ And I’m like, ‘That’s kind of weird, but, yeah, I’m good.’ Got done with that one, they asked again. I was like, ‘I haven’t been stretched out that long in a while.’ So I was kind of hesitant for the fifth, but I was like, ‘Yeah, I got it.’ And luckily it went my way, which is nice.

CPB – Unfortunately, your season came to an end right here. It was against Eugene. You were facing a current major leaguer right now, Bryce Eldridge. When did you know that something was wrong here?

CP – Yeah. I think it started before the game. Like, I was kind of sore, just in the pregame bullpen, but I didn’t really think anything of it. Got up to the mound, like, whatever. The first three batters were fine, or two I faced. Like, I didn’t really feel anything wrong. It was whoever was after Eldridge (Onil Perez), I threw a sweeper. Felt the forearm cramp up. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s weird. Maybe, like, I didn’t drink enough water or something.’ (Catcher Jacob Sharp) signaled four-seam, and I was like, ‘Okay.’ I threw it. I looked back (to the radar gun), it was like 86 (miles per hour). There was a forearm kind of sensation. I was like, “Yeah, we should probably get someone out here.’ And later on I found out.

CPB – So, going through Tommy John surgery, I know you had a few of your other teammates go through the same process. But what was that like for you, trying to get back to this point here?

CP – Luckily for me, like you said, there’s a lot of guys. And we have a lot of just cool guys with the same injury. And we were, like, all within a two-week period of each other so we were all on the same path. I think the hardest thing was, like, just not trying to compare myself to how others were doing. Like, everyone was throwing harder than me in the bunch. I was like, ‘Oh, I need to throw harder.’ I remember one time, I tried to let it go a little bit. It felt like the same kind of thing in my forearm. I was like, ‘Oh, I kind of messed it up.’ But luckily, after a day or two, it was fine. I was like, ‘Okay, I got to just stay on my own path.’ And eventually, everything’s going to work out in the end.

CPB – So, you’re in the bullpen right now. Is that where you’re happiest? Or would you like to maybe work your way up to the starting rotation?

CP – I honestly enjoy the bullpen a lot. I like being a bullpen guy. I mean, there are some times where I’m like, ‘Hey, let me get a start.’ But honestly, any position I can pitch in is fine with me. As long as I’m getting innings and getting my work in, that’s all I can really ask for.

CPB – Okay, starting with some fun stuff here. Which strikeout do you prefer? Swinging or called strike three?

CP – I think I like the swinging one. A little swing and miss for sure.

CPB – Okay. Funniest teammate?

CP – Funniest teammate? I’d have to say Jonathan Todd. He’s a goofball.

CPB – Did you have a favourite major league team or player growing up?

CP – Honestly, no. I didn’t grow up really watching baseball. I still don’t watch it too much. I’ve played enough. I just don’t watch it. I’ll tune into, like, the World Series and stuff for the most part but I don’t really have anyone.

CPB – Okay. And my final question. The Canadians have lots of different uniforms. There’s white, red, blue, black, gray, The Nat. Do you have a favourite?

CP – It’s got to be between the blue and the black. I’m not sure which one I prefer more. I do like the blues just because the hat’s really sick. So, I’ll probably lean more towards the blue for sure.

Carson Pierce File

Born – September 10, 2001, in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Height/Weight – 6’3’’, 215 pounds
Bats/Throws – Right/Right
Uniform Numbers – Wore number 43 with the Seminole State OK Trojans in 2021. Wore number 21 for the Cowley College Tigers in 2022. Wore number 21 with the Oklahoma Sooners and number 52 for the Florida Complex League Blue Jays in 2023. Wore number 24 for Dunedin and number 18 for the Vancouver Canadians in 2024.
Instagram – @carson.pierce_
Twitter – @CarsonPierce_
Mound Music – “Black Smoke Rising” by Greta Van Fleet.
Professional Debut – August 14, 2023, with the Florida Coast League Blue Jays vs. FCL Phillies.
First Professional Strikeout – August 19, 2023, with the FCL Blue Jays vs. FCL Yankees. Struck out Edinson Duran swinging.
C’s Debut – May 12, 2024, with the Vancouver Canadians versus the Everett AquaSox. Pitched one shutout inning with two strikeouts.
First Professional Win – May 26, 2024, with the Vancouver Canadians at the Hillsboro Hops. Pitched 1⅓ innings with one run allowed and one strikeout.
Fun Fact – The last Vancouver Canadian with Oklahoma Sooner ties was 2024 outfielder Jace Bohrofen who played for the Sooners in 2021 before transferring to Arkansas.
The More You Know – The Blue Jays have only drafted three Oklahoma Sooners, all of them pitchers. Sherm Collins was drafted in the 33rd round in 1986, lefthander David Purcey was taken with the Jays first round selection in 2004 and Burnaby, BC native JR Betts-Robinson was selected in the 31st round in 2008.