Benefits of Top Blue Jays Prospect Debuting in Late Season Stretch

It just keeps getting better for the Toronto Blue Jays, as they will have a new starter in the late stretch of the remainder of this season. Top-ranked prospect Trey Yesavage will make his MLB debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday evening after his promotion from Triple-A, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.

Jul 14, 2024; Ft. Worth, TX, USA; Trey Yesavage is drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 20th pick during the first round of the MLB Draft at Cowtown Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The youngster has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the Blue Jays’ farm system. He started the season in High-A and has made it all the way to the majors in one season. Yesavage is deserving of the promotion. All in all, he’s done exceedingly well, posting a 5-1 record and 3.12 ERA across four teams in the minors, as well as 160 strikeouts and holding hitters to a .158 batting average.

Blue Jays intend to promote 2024 first-round pick Trey Yesavage to majors, industry sources tell @bnicholsonsmith and me. Expected to be active by Monday. He’d been slated to pitch for Bisons on Sunday.

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) September 14, 2025

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The upside of Yesavage with the Blue Jays is overwhelmingly high due to his dominant minor-league performance and potential as a long-term rotation piece. He has shown high-caliber strikeout rates and a 0.969 WHIP across four minor-league levels this season. How the Blue Jays plan to use him will be intriguing. He could possibly make an appearance in the bullpen, but will ultimately be recognized as a future starter for the team. He will make a start on Monday, and fans will get a taste of the strikeout king.

Trey Yesavage Earns Promotion to Majors, Adding Pitching Strength for Blue Jays

Why the High Upside?

Dominant Minor-League Numbers

Yesavage has an exceptional strikeout rate (41.1%), which is elite among full-season pitchers. Scouts say his slider is his dominant pitch, and the Blue Jays see him as a long-term starting rotation piece.

Intriguing “Mysterious Profile”

His arsenal is built on north-and-south movement, a dynamic that has proven effective against hitters without exposure to the extreme velocity and movement.

Immediate Impact

Yesavage’s MLB debut on Monday will provide an instant spark and a compelling addition to a hot Blue Jays team. This will be an exciting time for Yesavage, who will join a fun clubhouse that has been playing with comeback success and urgency. Whatever Yesavage can add will be a bonus as he gets a taste of what the big leagues are like.

Bullpen?

Given the Blue Jays’ current rotation depth, they will likely use Yesavage in short outings or in the bullpen for the rest of the season, similar to past successful starting pitchers.

Postseason Availability

Promoting him now confirms he’s available for potential play in the postseason. This provides the Blue Jays with flexible options, offering them increased chances of making a deeper push in the postseason. The Blue Jays have several dominant arms in the rotation, such as Max Scherzer, Shane Bieber, Kevin Gausman, and Eric Lauer.

Challenges

Command Control

Yes, Yesavage has experienced wildness at times in his minor league career. Overall, he will need to sustain his command to pitch key innings at the major league level.

Workload Management

He has matched his career-high in innings pitched, so the Blue Jays will manage his workload carefully. This will be important, as the Blue Jays don’t want to overwork him. Having a planned workload in place will be important for the 22-year-old right-hander.

Main Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

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