Toronto Blue Jays newcomer Trey Yesavage, who kicked off the 2025 season in the minor leagues, is set to take the mound for Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.
Manager John Schneider disclosed the news before the series opener on Saturday. Yesavage, a right-handed pitcher, will face off against Yankees’ left-hander Max Fried in Sunday’s game.
Upon receiving the news, Yesavage expressed his overwhelming excitement, describing it as “awesome.”
The 22-year-old was drafted by Toronto with the 20th pick in the previous year’s amateur draft. Throughout this season, he ascended through four minor league levels before making his debut with the Blue Jays, where he recorded a 1-0 record in three starts in September.
Reflecting on his journey, Yesavage commented, “This year has been quite the ride for me. Joining my fifth team, meeting everyone in the organization, and now finding myself in this position, it couldn’t have been scripted any better.”
Yesavage’s pitching appearances have been limited to five innings in his Toronto starts and only a single six-inning outing in his 25 minor league games this season, with the majority as starts.
Known for his exceptional split-finger fastball, Yesavage set a Blue Jays record by striking out nine Rays batters in his major league debut. While he faced Tampa Bay and Kansas City before, the Yankees have yet to encounter him in person.
New York manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Yesavage’s talent, stating, “So far I only know a little bit about him, that he’s good. The split is real. I’ve heard he’s a guy that’s kind of unfazed by being up here in big spots.”
Blue Jays outfielder George Springer praised Yesavage’s composure as a rookie, noting, “He’s outwardly calm, and that demeanor does a lot for us. You would expect somebody to appear nervous, but he doesn’t. That just shows who he is as a player, who he is as a human being.”
In a strategic move, Toronto’s Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young awardee, will take the mound for Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, as confirmed by Schneider. New York is expected to start Carlos Rodon in that game.
Schneider explained the decision to start Yesavage at home and Bieber on the road, stating, “With the way that we use Trey, it keeps him available later in the series in any role we need.”
