A change of scenery can be a very, very powerful thing.

The Cubs have seen this story play out well before – trading for a former top prospect and watching as the energy of a fresh start and new opportunity helps lead to a breakthrough.

The most notable recent example is Jake Arrieta from 11 years ago, when he made the most of his change of scenery and catapulted to the National League Cy Young award in 2015.

The Cubs even have an example on their current roster, as first baseman Michael Busch was blocked by a strong core in the Dodgers organization. He was traded to Chicago and with the runway of everyday playing time, he is now a Rookie of the Year finalist amid a breakout season.

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The Cubs are hoping Nate Pearson can follow the same script.

Pearson was the Blue Jays’ 1st-round pick (28th overall) in 2017 and ranked as a Top 10 prospect in the game leading into the 2020 season. He made his big-league debut that same year, pitching 5 games (4 starts) during that pandemic-shortened season.

Since then, he has struggled to find his footing in the majors. The Blue Jays have shuttled Pearson between Triple-A and Toronto and there were some injuries thrown in the mix as well – including a lat strain that limited him to only 13 minor-league appearances in 2022.

Even this year, Pearson has been on the bus between Triple-A and the majors. He earned a spot in the Opening Day Blue Jays bullpen and had a 0.00 ERA through 6 appearances.

Yet the Blue Jays still optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo on April 16 due to a roster crunch. He did not appear in a game in the minors and was quickly recalled back to Toronto on April 20 when an injury opened the door in the bullpen.

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As Jed Hoyer’s front office worked to find moves that made sense in the long-term as well as the present, they acquired Pearson from the Blue Jays ahead of the trade deadline.

The 27-year-old right-hander is under team control through the 2026 season, so he could become a mainstay on the Cubs pitching staff.

He has worked almost exclusively as a reliever since the start of the 2022 season and while he has flashed his potential at times, Pearson has not yet enjoyed that breakout.

He carried a 5.21 ERA in 93 career appearances with the Blue Jays. Walks were a problem earlier in his career – though he has worked to limit that issue – and he has served up 22 home runs in 115.2 innings.

On the other hand, his minor-league numbers are eye-popping: 2.61 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 243 strikeouts in 190 innings (11.5 K/9).

For Pearson, the move to the Cubs can be a fresh start both mentally and physically after Toronto was the only MLB franchise he had ever known.

“I felt like mentally over there after not necessarily struggling for 4 years but just not really getting my foot in, being the guy that’s getting optioned up and down,” Pearson said. “Even earlier this year, getting optioned when I had a 0.00 ERA was tough.

“I think it was just time for me – for both sides, honestly – to move on to something new. … I definitely needed a change of scenery.”

From a physical aspect, the Cubs immediately came to Pearson with mechanical tweaks that they felt would make him more effective on the mound.

The main adjustment was moving to the first base side of the rubber on the mound. Pearson had originally been throwing from that side of the rubber, but the Blue Jays asked him to move closer to third base earlier this season.

It’s a small sample size but the results have been strong so far – Pearson has a 2.89 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 9.1 innings with the Cubs so far.

In addition to the results, Pearson is more confident pitching on the first base side of the rubber, feeling like he is more deceptive – particularly to left-handed hitters.

All that said, joining a new team in the middle of a season can be daunting. Pearson has to work with a completely different coaching staff, brand new catchers and navigate a new clubhouse in a new city.

That can be overwhelming for a player who has never had to experience that throughout his career. But Pearson credits the Cubs with making it a smooth transition, providing him with snippets of information so as to not overwhelm him.

It doesn’t help things when his Cubs debut resulted in a controversial ejection in Cincinnati, but that’s something Pearson can laugh about now.

“That game was pretty crazy,” he said, smiling. “It’s one way to make a first impression. But after that, it’s like, alright, this is what we’re doing now. Let’s just settle in and get on a roll here.”

Pearson’s new manager understands how powerful a change of scenery can be.

“When players change teams, it’s an opportunity for them to get a different set of voices and coaches and just to hear something different,” Craig Counsell said. “There’s not always answers in coaches. It’s making the connection to the player and getting him something that resonates with him and that he feels he can incorporate. So sometimes it just requires different voices or is helped by different voices.

“And it’s also a point for players to start fresh. I think for someone like Nate, who had been with Toronto for a really long time and had gone through a number of trajectories and phases in his career, a fresh start is really helpful – mentally as much as anything.”

Pearson has been part of a resurgence in the Cubs bullpen, as the unit has transformed from a weakness on the roster to the best group in the majors.

And the Cubs hope he’s just getting started.

“I’m just trying to reach the potential that I know I’m capable of,” Pearson said. “This is a great opportunity for me. I’m just trying to come here and run with it, honestly. Just get on a roll and try to get my career to keep going up.”