There it is. Toronto Blue Jays fans have been clamoring for this for weeks, while watching 2024 first-round pick Trey Yesavage blow through the minors at every level this season. He is finally arriving with the big club.
Blue Jays beat writers Shi Davidi and Ben Nicholson-Smith broke the news that Yesavage has been called up and is expected to be active with the team by Monday.
The 22-year-old was the 20th overall pick in the ’24 Draft, and he has been dominant in the minors this season. Yesavage was striking out 14.7 batters per nine innings. That kind of heat would come in very handy on the Jays’ pitching staff.
He began the season at Low-A Dunedin, where he posted a 2.43 ERA with a ridiculous 55:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 33 innings. He ramped up the heat even more in High-A Vancouver, at 17.1 K/9. Then to Double-A New Hampshire and finally six appearances this past month at Triple-A Buffalo, including four starts.
Yesavage brings his 14.7 K/9 up to the Toronto staff
Overall this season: a 3.12 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and oh, those strikeout numbers. But maybe the most important stat to take note of in his time at Buffalo: 0 home runs allowed in 17.1 innings.
Yesavage’s most recent appearance was impressive, throwing 28-of-34 pitches for strikes. It continued an incredible four-game stretch:
That over-the-top arm slot will be a new look for opposing hitters in the majors who have never seen him before. Yesavage has a 1.64 ERA in his last four appearances at Triple-A.
In a somewhat surprising move, the Blue Jays have announced that Yesavage will start Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Manager John Schneider says Yesavage “is here to help Jays win and has the ability to do so now,” writes Nicholson-Smith. That starting staff is pretty crowded as is, so what his role will be after Monday’s start is still to be determined.
