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In April, Trey Yesavage was pitching in front of a few hundred fans in Florida for the Blue Jays’ Single-A affiliate in Dunedin. Six months later, he stood on the mound at Dodger Stadium, silencing more than 50,000 people with a performance that etched his name in baseball history.
The 22-year-old rookie right-hander delivered a 12-strikeout, no-walk masterpiece in Game 5 of the World Series. Led Toronto Blue Jays to 6-1 win Over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The victory brought Toronto to the brink of its first championship in 32 years, an accomplishment that some could not have imagined when the Yesves began their season at the bottom of the minors.
“Yeah, it’s a crazy world,” Yesavage told Sportsnet’s Shea Davidi Following game 5. “Hollywood couldn’t have made it this good. I’m so lucky to be a part of it.”
Yesways’ journey to this moment is as improbable as it is inspiring. Drafted 20th overall in 2024, the East Carolina University product enters 2025 as a promising but undrafted wing. What followed was a whirlwind tour of the Blue Jays’ farm system:
- Single-A Dunedin in April
- High-A Vancouver in May
- Double-A New Hampshire in June
- Triple-A Buffalo in August
- Toronto Blue Jays in September
In those four minor-league stops, Yesvez logged 97.9 innings, showing glimpses of dominance but also the rawness of a pitcher who is still learning his craft.
His call-up to the majors in September brought three regular season starts and 14 innings, enough to indicate his potential, but hardly a preview of what was to come.
Yesways’ Fall Classic Story
Then came October. Thrust into the playoff rotation, Yesavage has been nothing short of sensational. In five postseason starts, including two in the World Series, he has thrown 26 innings so far, striking out batters at a historic pace while also showing patience beyond his years.
In his first postseason start, before the bold proclamation that he “designed for, Yesways dominate Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees En route to an outstanding 11-strikeout shutout in Game 2 of the ALDS. He was tasked with handling the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS not once but twice, Game 6, including win-or-go-home startHe struck out seven in 5.2 innings, keeping Toronto’s World Series hopes alive.
Ultimately, it was Goliath and the Dodgers. The 22-year-old had two World Series starts, two wins, 17 combined strikeouts and only three earned runs.
“Fans were saying, I’m going to give up home runs, I’m only going to last an inning or two,” the rookie told Sportsnet during an interview inside the Blue Jays clubhouse. “I just used it to add fuel to the fire. I said, ‘This is so much fun. Everyone hates me, and I have to go out here and prove them wrong.’
The Yesways’ Game 5 start will always be remembered
His Game 5 outing against the Dodgers was particularly notable: seven innings, three hits, one run, 12 strikeouts, and no walks. The performance broke a rookie strikeout record in the World Series.It underlined how rare it is for a pitcher with little major-league experience to dominate on baseball’s biggest stage.
The seven innings pitched for Yesavage were his longest of the season, topping the six innings he worked for Low-A Dunedin versus Clearwater on May 1. The 104 pitches he threw marked another season high, surpassing the 94 innings he threw against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 27.
Few rookies in modern baseball have made such a journey from Class-A to the World Series rotation in a single season. Typically, pitchers spend years climbing the ladder, refining their mechanics, and building stamina.
“I don’t think anyone necessarily believed it,” Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said. “Usually there’s a bit of a change, and he’s thrown himself into the role. He’s taken on the weight of the world in some ways as there can be pressure on anyone at the moment. And he’s handled it all very well. He just knows what he needs to do and he trusts his work.”
One win away from World Series title
The 22-year-old Yesavage has emerged as the face of Toronto’s improbable run for a franchise that has long been searching for October heroes. His calm demeanor, electric fastball and devastating splitter have given the Blue Jays a weapon they didn’t expect so quickly.
“How he was able to mentally make Game 5 of the World Series feel like any other day,” Blue Jays veteran pitcher Chris Bassitt tells ESPN’s Jeff Passan“It could have been May. You can’t tell. She’s absolutely calm, and she’s so confident in herself.”
Many important and unlikely stories emerged from Toronto’s magical season, from players who played a role in George Springer’s renaissance campaign to Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. But Yesavage’s entry is something the game has never seen before.
Bassitt told Passan, “If I was a Dodgers fan, I would try to upset him, too.” “Given the fact that he is 22 years old [and] The fact is that he has barely been on the road. Given the fact that it’s the World Series. I’m talking – but the reality is that I don’t think many people realize that it doesn’t bother them. He says, wait until I reach the mound. “Let me show you.”
With Toronto just one win away from its first World Series title since 1993, Yesavage’s story has become a symbol of the team’s resilience and belief. From Dunedin to Dodger Stadium, his rise has mirrored the Blue Jays’ return to relevance.
With files from Sportsnet and ESPN