Fighting for the top spot in the American League, the Blue Jays are reportedly getting a big arm for their pitching staff. Trey Yesavage, who started in Low-A, will receive his fourth promotion of the season, as he’ll join the Blue Jays for the stretch run. It comes after a very strong first pro season for the 2024 first-round pick.
A Look at Yesavage
East Carolina University has turned into a pitching factory in recent years. The Pirates saw Trey Yesavage drafted 20th overall last July after a very impressive college career. He struck out 105 over 76 frames in 2023, his first year starting after working in the ECU bullpen in 2022. Then, in 2024, he struck out 145 over 93 frames to solidify his status as an elite college prospect.
Since going pro, the Jays have heavily managed his innings. Yesavage threw five or more innings in four of his first seven starts as a professional. But since the start of June, just three of his 15 outings saw him go five innings (a limit he hasn’t exceeded since May).
Nonetheless, that didn’t stop his rapid ascent through the Minors. Opposing batters hit just .086 off him in High-A. He struck out 46 over 30 innings in New Hampshire (AA). His numbers in Triple-A (.150 opp. AVG, 26 K over 17.1 IP) were equally impressive.
In total, Yesavage struck out 160 batters over 98 innings this season. He walked 41 in that span but the command isn’t that bad. Yesavage showed the ability to hit his spots.
Yesavage is an optical boondoggle. Throwing from a very high arm slot, Yesavage’s fastball plays in the 93-95 MPH with a significant amount of induced carry that keeps that pitch from dipping down. How much exactly? An average of 19.5” in Triple-A, which would rank well above the MLB average.
That pitch helped him net swings-and-misses (21.4% Whiff% in Triple-A). But on top of that, it helped set up a very good slider (47.2% Whiff%).
Yesavage’s slider is somewhat of a unicorn. It’s a unicorn in the sense that it possesses a movement profile distinctly different from traditional gyro sliders. Rather than breaking down towards the glove side, his slider just breaks down. That pitch, that sits in the high-80s, makes for a very unique offering and a powerful one at that.
Additionally, Yesavage also utilized a splitter down in Triple-A. Those were the only recorded pitches he used with Buffalo (AAA), noteworthy since he did use a cutter down in Low-A.
Sportsnet (CA) indicated that the Blue Jays will activate Trey Yesavage by September 15.
Analysis
A move of this nature is not atypical. Major League teams have, in the past, promoted a high-end pitching prospect over the final few weeks to help out a pitching staff. The Tigers did it last season with Jackson Jobe. David Price was promoted to the Rays in 2008, a year after he went pro.
Yesavage figures to be a key piece of the future Blue Jays rotation. He’s got a lot of weapons to work with, and he can miss bats. But, that doesn’t mean that will be his role in the interim.
As of now, Shane Bieber, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Max Scherzer, and Chris Bassitt comprise Toronto’s promotion. Yesavage could figure to fit into the Jays’ bullpen now, one that may need a boost.
Seranthony Dominguez (119 ERA+), acquired in July, has been fine overall but the BB/9 spiked to 6.1 since his arrival in Toronto. Louie Varland has been hit around since he joined the Jays, while Jeff Hoffman, the team’s closer, conceded 15 home runs this season. Yimi Garcia and Nick Sandlin are on the IL.
Yesavage pushed his fastball up to 95-96 MPH as a starter, and that pitch could play up in a relief role. And remember, he is postseason-eligible via petition, as Yesavage was in the organization before September 1.
UPDATE (9/14): Manager John Schneider stated that Yesavage will start on the 15th against the Rays. Berrios will be pushed back and his role will be determined from that point forward.
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