Blue Jays prospect Max Pentecost leaves camp to evaluate future

Kevin Pillar of the Blue Jays joined Sportsnet’s Starting Lineup to discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s seamless transition into the Jays’ clubhouse.

DUNEDIN, Fla. – Toronto Blue Jays catching prospect Max Pentecost has left camp to consider his future, with retirement among the possibilities, multiple industry sources told Sportsnet.

A first-round pick, 11th overall in the 2014 draft, the 26-year-old played 89 games and logged 660 innings behind the plate last year at double-A New Hampshire, the latest point of progress after shoulder troubles threatened his career.

Pentecost, selected as a strong two-way catcher at Kennesaw State University, underwent shoulder cleanups after the 2014 season and in the spring of 2015 before undergoing a third surgery, known as a subacromial decompression, in the fall of 2015, that seemed to have resolved his issues.

The Blue Jays helped him carefully rebuild his throwing arm from there and in 2017 he resumed catching again, working 167 innings behind the plate, all but five of them with single-A Dunedin.

Last year Pentecost carried most of the load at New Hampshire, batting .253/.283/.401 while backstopping the club to an Eastern League championship as he continued to play catch-up in his career.

This season, Pentecost may have been set for a return to New Hampshire with Reese McGuire set to start at triple-A Buffalo.

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