Entering the 2026 season, the Toronto Blue Jays had no shortage of reasons to be confident. Their batting lineup still revolved around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, while rotation was considered one of the strongest and deepest in the league. Dylan Cease was brought in to spearhead the attack. Shane Bieber remained. Cody Ponce added depth. On paper, Toronto looked like a team well-prepared for a long and demanding season.
But among all those familiar names, there was a young pitcher quietly drawing attention to himself — Trey Yesavage.
Yesavage didn’t enter MLB through the slow road. He appeared suddenly, almost without warning, and immediately made it feel like he belonged. Three regular season appearances last year, 14 innings, 16 strikeouts — not a huge number, but enough to lay the groundwork. What really changed how people viewed him came in the postseason.
In the Blue Jays’ World Series run, Yesavage was used as a true asset. Six appearances, three wins, a 3.58 ERA, and 39 strikeouts in just 27 2/3 innings. Those weren’t the numbers of an “experimental” pitcher. Those were the data of someone trusted.
And Toronto knew that.
When the team published their top three prospect lists according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, Yesavage was at the top. No. 12 according to Pipeline. No. 10 according to Baseball America. Two rigorous, independent rating systems, and rarely agree without clear reason.
This is no longer just internal hype.
Yesavage is still eligible as a rookie for the 2026 season due to his late debut, and that immediately puts him in the early running for AL Rookie of the Year. But the “rookie” label here is somewhat misleading. He didn’t enter this year as an unknown quantity. He came in with playoff experience, with the coaching staff’s confidence, and with an already established position in the team’s pitching structure.
What makes this rise even more remarkable is its speed. Toronto selected Yesavage in the first round of the 2024 Draft. Just over a year later, he’s pitched some of the most significant innings of the MLB season. From Single-A to big league in a matter of months — and without faltering at any level.
Not many pitchers can do that. Even fewer can do it while maintaining composure. With Yesavage, there’s no sense of rush. No showmanship. He pitches as if everything is under control — even when the stage is the World Series.
With an already tight rotation, the question isn’t whether Yesavage will find a place. It’s how Toronto will utilize him. A full-time starter? A versatile pick? Or something in between? The answer may change season after season, but it’s clear the team isn’t viewing him as a backup option.
The interesting thing is: the Blue Jays don’t need to rush. They have depth. They have experience. And they have a young pitcher who’s progressing rapidly, but isn’t being forced to run.
Trey Yesavage is being called a “star of the future.” But if you look at how Toronto is treating him — and how the rating agencies are ranking him — that future may already have begun.
The only question remaining is: how will he make his mark on the 2026 season?
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