TORONTO – Trey Yesavage is on the brink of his big-league debut, as the Toronto Blue Jays are setting in motion plans to promote the 2024 first-round pick to the MLB level, industry sources told Sportsnet.
Yesavage is expected in Toronto Sunday, when the Blue Jays close out their series with the Baltimore Orioles, but it’s not yet clear whether he’ll be active for Sunday’s game or on Monday, when the Blue Jays open a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Either way, it’s a significant development for both the Blue Jays and the top draft pick. Yesavage, a 22-year-old right-hander with an unusually high release point, has posted exceptional minor-league numbers across four levels this season: a 3.12 ERA with 160 strikeouts compared to 41 walks in 98 innings.
He was slated to start at triple-A Buffalo Sunday, but is instead making his way to Toronto, where manager John Schneider will address the media in the morning. That’s not the norm for Schneider, who typically speaks post-game on Sundays but not before games.
If Yesavage pitches well enough to warrant consideration for a post-season spot, the Blue Jays will have the flexibility to use him in October, pending MLB approval.
First, though, Yesavage will have to prove himself against MLB hitters. While he’s spent most of the season developing as a starting pitcher, Yesavage has pitched out of the bullpen in two of his past three appearances, and hasn’t thrown more than 54 pitches in any of his three September outings.
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As a result, Yesavage is not fully stretched out as a starting pitcher, so it’s possible he begins his Blue Jays career as a reliever capable of pitching multiple innings at once. One way or another, Schneider will detail those plans Sunday morning.
The Blue Jays haven’t announced or confirmed the promotion, and the corresponding move for Yesavage isn’t yet clear.
Selecting the contract of Yesavage will mean he’ll be on the 40-man roster all winter, giving the Blue Jays one less spot to work with. Promoting Yesavage now reflects a belief that his contributions at the MLB level will be well worth the slight reduction in roster flexibility later.
