Reports from Sportsnet indicate that the Toronto Blue Jays “plan” to promote pitching prospect Trey Yesavage to their major league roster on the upcoming Monday. Standing at 6-foot-4, Yesavage, a right-handed pitcher, has seen a quick advancement to the major leagues. He was selected by the Blue Jays in the first round, being the 20th overall pick, from East Carolina during the 2024 MLB draft.
At 22 years of age, Yesavage began the current season with Class-A Dunedin, where he pitched in seven games as a starter. Following that, he started four games with High-A Vancouver before moving on to make eight starts for Double-A New Hampshire and six starts with Triple-A Buffalo. Accumulatively, his record stands at 5 wins and 1 loss, accompanied by a 3.12 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and a total of 160 strikeouts compared to 41 walks across 98 innings pitched.
According to CBS Sports, R.J. Anderson, a scouting expert, identified Yesavage as the Blue Jays’ most promising prospect prior to this season. Describing Yesavage’s playing style, Anderson commented, “His approach centers on utilizing the vertical plane, originating from his elevated release point and extending to his repertoire, which includes a rising fastball, a sharp curveball, and a split-change, among other pitches.”
Quoting Anderson further, from observations made just 10 days prior:
Yesavage employs a somewhat unconventional delivery technique. His stride is notably short, causing him to maintain an upright posture at the point of release, coupled with a high arm slot that permits him to release the ball from a height exceeding seven feet off the ground. Correspondingly, his suite of pitches is designed more around vertical movement rather than horizontal. It is unlikely that he would opt for a sweeper away from a right-handed batter or attempt to jam a left-handed batter with a precisely executed cutter. His entire arsenal, encompassing his fastball, slider, and splitter, demonstrates an average drift towards the arm-side.
This distinct style hasn’t hindered Yesavage’s performance against minor-league hitters. It remains to be seen whether he will receive the chance to face major-league opponents before the year concludes, or if the Blue Jays will keep him available primarily to manage his pitch count more effectively. (He has virtually equaled his personal best for innings pitched in a single season.) Regardless, whenever Yesavage makes his debut, he is poised to instantly become recognized as one of the most captivating young pitchers in the major leagues.
The Blue Jays roster seems to be settled with Shane Bieber, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer and Kevin Gausman currently making up the starting rotation, suggesting that Yasavage might initially be introduced to major league play as a relief pitcher. This transition is not without precedent, as several pitchers who began as relievers have ascended to become prominent starters, exemplified by cases like David Price and Chris Sale.
At present, the Blue Jays hold the leading position in the AL East standings, boasting a record of 86 wins and 62 losses. This places them three games ahead of the Yankees, who are in second place.
