Pentecost has retired from professional baseball, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
The No. 11 overall pick in 2014, Pentecost's career was derailed by a number of injuries, and that lost developmental time resulted in poor performance in 2018 at Double-A. He is 26 years old and played in 260 minor-league games.
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Blue Jays' Max Pentecost: Contemplating future
Rotowire
Pentecost has left camp to consider his future, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Retirement is apparently a possibility for the 26-year-old. Pentecost spent all of the 2018 campaign with Double-A New Hampshire, hitting .253/.283/.401 with 10 homers in 89 games.
Blue Jays' Max Pentecost: Heading to Arizona Fall League
Rotowire
Pentecost will participate in the Arizona Fall League, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The catcher's innings have been strictly managed this season as the team takes it slowly with Pentecost, who missed all of 2015 due to shoulder surgeries. In 71 games for High-A Dunedin this year, the 24-year-old prospect slashed .276/.332/.434 with nine home runs and 54 RBI. Toronto's front office remains hopeful Pentecost is the organization's catcher of the future.
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Blue Jays' Max Pentecost: Placed on minor-league DL
Rotowire
Pentecost was placed on the DL retroactive to August 8 with an undisclosed injury, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The catching prospect didn't appear to suffer an injury in any of his recent games for High-A Dunedin, and considering there's no official diagnosis as of now, the move was likely just a way to give Pentecost a break. He's slashing .276/.332/.434 through 71 games with Dunedin this year.
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Blue Jays' Max Pentecost: Increasing workload as catcher
Rotowire
Pentecost, who missed the entire 2015 season due to shoulder surgeries, is beginning to see more time at catcher now that he's back to full health, Sportsnet.ca reports.
The No. 11 overall pick in 2014 had been serving as the DH and playing some first base while his shoulder regained strength. However, catching is still Pentecost's primary position, and he's arguably the best backstop in Toronto's system. Through 67 games with High-A Dunedin, the 24-year-old is hitting .285 and is tied for second on the team with nine home runs.
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Blue Jays' Max Pentecost: Back behind dish
Rotowire
Pentecost caught his first game since 2014 on Tuesday and is hitting .258/.303/.387 with one home run and a 6:2 K:BB in 31 at-bats with High-A Dunedin.
Pentecost's dynasty-league value is tied to him sticking behind the plate, as the bat is unlikely to profile anywhere else, so this is encouraging news. He won't catch every time he starts going forward, but he is slowly being worked back in. At 24, he is way behind in his development due to shoulder injuries, and is simply a player to watch in most formats until he reaches the upper levels and reestablishes himself as an everyday catcher.
Blue Jays' Max Pentecost: Hits DL, won't catch this season
Rotowire
Pentecost, who was placed on the seven-day DL after injuring his left shoulder on an awkward slide into home plate last Wednesday, will only be used as a DH this season and will not catch again until next year, Blue Jays Nation reports.
The saga of the 11th overall pick (and the top catching prospect) in 2014 continues with another unfortunate setback due to injury. Pentecost, who returned from offseason shoulder surgery in May, was expected by most -- including his Single-A Lansing manager John Schneider -- to be working behind the plate by now; however, it turns out the Jays never had plans for Pentecost to do more than DH while slowly strengthening his arm this year. Gil Kim, the organization's Director of Player Development, said, "I think there's been some confusion (about the plans for Pentecost) from what I've been reading. The most important thing was for him to get consistent at-bats at a full-season affiliate. He's doing very well. We don't plan on him catching before the end of the season."
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Blue Jays' Max Pentecost: Activated from DL Thursday
Rotowire
Pentecost (shoulder) was activated from the disabled list Thursday and was sent to Class-A Lansing.
The road to recovery was long, but it seems that the former first-round draft pick is back to full health and ready for regular game action. As long as he remains healthy, Pentecost could still prove why he is regarded as a valuable catching prospect in the Blue Jays organization.
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Blue Jays' Max Pentecost: Nearing return from disabled list
Rotowire
Pentecost (shoulder) is currently playing in extended spring training games and is moving toward activation from the disabled list, Sportsnet reports.
Pentecost, highly regarded for both his bat and defense, looked set to zip through the Blue Jays system before his injury woes hit. Despite having a third shoulder surgery, the organization still believe the 11th overall pick in 2014 has a promising future behind the plate. Pentecost could see some time at first base or designated hitter for a period of time in order to protect his shoulder. "The hope is that he'll be able to get full season at-bats pretty soon," says Blue Jays director of player development Gil Kim. "The main goal is that he gets at-bats since he has had so much time off. For now, it's getting at-bats and building that throwing back up better than it used to be."
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Blue Jays' Max Pentecost: Optimistic about progress
Rotowire
Pentecost (shoulder) threw a ball back to the pitcher Monday and is optimistic about his progress in recovering from shoulder surgery, Gare Joyce of Sportsnet reports.
Pentecost reportedly feels significantly healthier than in the past, and even took part in soft toss Monday. As far as a timetable goes, the catching prospect is still a ways away from getting back to game action, but he personally believes that he'll be able to do more than just therapeutic throwing by the time the minor league season gets into full swing. There has also been some speculation that the 22-year-old could convert to one of the corner infield positions to save his arm a bit and get him more at-bats during the spring, but Pentecost insists that he wants to stay behind the plate in the long run. Regardless, it's good to hear that he's finally feeling significantly better, although it'll still be a waiting game to see when he'll return to game action.
