The Toronto Blue Jays are on the cusp of winning their first division title in 10 years. And, they’re hoping that a pitcher with nine innings of MLB experience can get them there.
Trey Yesavage will take the mound for the Blue Jays on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays, on a day in which the Toronto can clinch the division title with a win and a New York Yankees loss.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the 22-year-old pitcher. Not even four months ago, Yesavage was playing High-A baseball with the Vancouver Canadians, three levels below the MLB.
He’s played for five different teams this season: the Blue Jays, and then four of their minor league affiliates. The constant uniform change has taken him around the continent, from Vancouver to Florida, to New Hampshire, before settling in around Lake Ontario with the Buffalo Bandits and the Jays.
Of course, another reason why Toronto is turning to the youngster is the fact that some of their starting pitchers have slipped of late, with pitchers like Max Scherzer and Jose Berrios struggling in particular.
However, Yesavage proved earlier this month that the MLB stage isn’t too big for him. He helped the Jays clinch a playoff spot during his last start, an 8-5 win over the Kansas City Royals.
His only other start aside from that was his Major League debut, where he was lights out in a 2-1 Jays win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Pottstown, Pennsylvania native allowed just three hits and struck out nine batters in five innings of work.
If Yesavage helps the Jays clinch their first division title since he was a 12-year-old, a playoff start could be next.
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