Trey Yesavage had baseball fans on their feet during the 2025 postseason, and now the Blue Jays are taking their time getting him ready for 2026.
A Record-Breaking Rookie Season
Just six weeks before making his mark on the biggest stage, 22-year-old Yesavage was still honing his craft in the minor leagues, starting his 2025 campaign in Low-A ball with the Dunedin Blue Jays in Florida. He tore through the minors and got called up to Toronto in mid-September. He only had three major league starts under his belt before embarking on an unforgettable playoff journey.
Yesavage showed up big in the 2025 World Series. In a pivotal Game 5 start at Dodger Stadium, he delivered a performance for the ages, striking out 12 batters on just over 100 pitches. He broke the rookie postseason strikeout record—a mark that had stood since Don Newcombe struck out 11 in 1949 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
What's crazier: he's the only pitcher ever to strike out 12 in a World Series game without walking anyone. The only damage came on a solo homer in the third.
He went seven innings—a big deal in October baseball, especially when most other starters couldn't get out of the fifth or sixth, except for Yamamoto's complete game in Game 2.
Yesavage accumulated 11 innings pitched through the World Series, adding to the three innings he threw in Game 1. People who'd seen him pitch before weren't shocked. Shaun Vernesoni, who coached Yesavage on the Keystone State Bombers in Pennsylvania, remembered what they called him: "The Cheat Code." Vernesoni explained, "Because anytime you entered Trey into a game, you won." That same fire shows up now at the major league level.
Cautious Approach to 2026 Spring Training
Given his extraordinary and unexpected workload in 2025, which saw him log 41.2 total innings in MLB, including 27.2 during Toronto’s postseason run, the Blue Jays are taking a measured approach to Yesavage's preparation for the 2026 season. They're keeping him out of Grapefruit League games for now, focused on keeping him healthy for the long haul.
So far this spring, Yesavage's only pitched in simulated games against minor leaguers. Both times he threw 35 pitches in two innings. Most recently, on a Monday, he completed another two-inning session, five days after his first similar appearance. Manager John Schneider wants to see the same thing next time—slow and steady buildup.
Other pitchers are already in Grapefruit League games, but Yesavage won't be—not yet, anyway. The plan is to get him into Grapefruit League games eventually, but spring training's almost over.
Looking Ahead to Opening Day
Spring training's wrapping up—the equipment truck's already heading north to Toronto. The Blue Jays have five spring games left before Opening Day on March 27 against Oakland.
No one's sure yet if he'll get another start before camp ends, but he might pitch once more—either in a real game or another sim. The Blue Jays are being careful with him because he's shown he can handle the biggest moments.
Dylan Cease also threw five innings against minor leaguers on Monday. Cease said he felt good about it and wants one more game before camp ends. Kirk's back from the World Baseball Classic and will catch both Yesavage and Cease on Monday, so Yesavage's at least facing big-league talent.
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The Blue Jays will announce their Opening Day starter on Saturday—Kevin Gausman's the favorite for his first with Toronto.
This article was created with AI assistance.
