logo
Blue Jays: Plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Trey Yesavage in 2026
alt
Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Feb 12, 2026, 13:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 12, 2026, 12:27 EST
Comments
It’s hard to believe Trey Yesavage still technically qualifies as a rookie in 2026 after how he pitched during the Toronto Blue Jays’ playoff run. He’s still appearing on prospect lists after authoring some of the best pitching performances in franchise history. 
Yesavage’s experience is a double-edged sword. While having already succeeded on the biggest stage is sure to boost his confidence, he’s also lost the element of surprise. Teams around the league will be far better prepared to face him this year. Still, the Blue Jays should be feeling good about their young arm ahead of his first full season. 
The first reason for optimism is that Yesavage throws quality pitches. His fastball sat at 94.7 mph during the regular season, and his devastating splitter came as advertised. His slider is another funky weapon, and he’s apparently been tinkering with a curveball as well this offseason. His success wasn’t a case of getting lucky with an underwhelming repertoire; Yesavage has the tools needed to get major league hitters out. 
It’s true that Yesavage’s extreme release point certainly caught many teams off guard when they faced them for the first time. It’s also true that the best start of his life came in his second go-around against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series. He proved that he isn’t just a gimmick pitcher who relies on surprising batters to be successful. He can dominate hitters when he’s on, regardless of whether they have seen him before. 
Fangraphs currently projects Yesavage to record a 3.83 ERA over 130 innings in 2026 with a 25.9% strikeout rate. The Blue Jays would happily take that from him, given he’s likely to be the team’s fourth starter in the rotation behind established veterans Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, and Shane Bieber come playoff time. 
The biggest area for concern with Yesavage in 2026 is likely to be his command. Fangraphs’ projection has him walking 9.9% of the batters he faces after issuing 18 free passes in his 41 ⅔ innings split between the regular season and playoffs last year. Hitters aren’t going to chase his offspeed pitches if he can’t get ahead in counts. 
The good news for Yesavage is that the Blue Jays coaching staff has a track record of helping pitchers throw more strikes. They helped turn Robbie Ray—who led MLB in walks issued when they acquired him—into a Cy Young award winner in less than a year. 
With all that said, it would be unfair to expect Yesavage to be an ace this season even if he pitched like one during the playoffs. He’s only 22 years old. He will undoubtedly have some ups and downs as the league becomes more familiar with him. However, he’s shown he has the stuff and the composure to roll with the punches—and come out on top. 

PRESENTED BY VIVID SEATS

Take $20 off your first Vivid Seats order of $200+ using promo code JAYSNATION (new customers only, $200 USD minimum before taxes & fees)

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News