Trey Yesavage will be diving into the deep end.
The Toronto Blue Jays‘ top pitching prospect will make his MLB debut Monday in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays, manager John Schneider told reporters on Sunday.
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.
“It’s insane. I’ve always dreamed about this and its finally come true. It’s awesome,” Yesvage said Sunday. “… I was very emotional at first. And then after that, I was almost, like, numb. I didn’t know how to feel. It was just a whirlwind of emotions.”
He said he doesn’t feel “much pressure at all.”
“I’m still playing a children’s game for a living. There’s five-year-olds that play this game. So, for me, at 22, I can deal with it just fine. I’m just having fun every single day I’m here,” Yesavage said.
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.
He was originally slated to start for triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.
“We think he can help us win,” Schneider said. “If we didn’t think he could help us win — starting tomorrow — it’s a different discussion. We’re not in position to say, ‘Hey, come up, let’s see what you’ve got, and we’ll figure it out.’ We’re expecting him to come up and contribute.”
Had the Blue Jays continued on their regular rotation, Monday’s start would have belonged to Jose Berrios. Instead, he’ll be pushed back to Tuesday and followed by Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt for the four-game series at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Schneider said Yesavage’s role will be determined after the outing and he will not have an innings cap for the rest of the season. He could either continue to start or shift to the bullpen as a long reliever.
“Right now it’s based off of how he’s pitching, and if it’s in a starting role, if it’s in a relieving role, the innings this year, absolutely no concern for us,” Schneider said.
The Boyertown, Penn., native, who was selected 20th overall in the first round of the 2024 draft, will enter the big leagues in the thick of a pennant race.
Toronto currently leads the AL East by three games over the New York Yankees and 5.5 over the Boston Red Sox, while holding a 2.5-game cushion over the Detroit Tigers for the top seed overall.
