The Toronto Blue Jays’ farm system has made leaps and bounds this season, with numerous players excelling across the various affiliates within the system. One player who has led the charge in this regard is right-hander Trey Yesavage, the club’s first-round selection from the 2024 MLB Draft.

Yesavage didn’t appear in any game action last year and debuted in Single-A Dunedin this season. Since toeing the rubber in Dunedin back in April, the East Carolina product has taken the minor leagues by storm. He made seven starts for the Blue Jays in the Florida State League before being moved to the West Coast, joining the High-A Vancouver Canadians. Four starts there turned into a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire, where he appeared in eight games (seven starts) before getting the nod to Triple-A Buffalo, where he currently is.

Through 95 innings this season, Yesavage owns a 3.22 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP across 24 appearances. He’s struck out 156 batters, good enough for sixth in minor league baseball in pitchers with a minimum of 90 innings, and a number that has decreased a bit since the Jays moved him into a bullpen role down the stretch. Yesavage also owns a stellar 5.1 H/9 mark and has allowed just eight home runs this season.

It’s easy to see why Jays fans are excited about the right-hander and what he potentially brings to a big league roster. However, the big question remains as to whether that will happen this season or potentially next year.

With Yesavage starting to get some bullpen reps in Triple-A, it does seem like the organization is hitting two birds with one stone. They are limiting the innings on their star pitcher during his debut pro season, but also have him ready for a relief stint should the Jays need his arm in the big leagues. Starting pitchers are very habitual, and disrupting that rhythm can come with some drawbacks if not managed properly. Yesavage hasn’t thrown more than 93 innings before this season during his college days, so it’s easy to see why the front office doesn’t want to push their top prospect’s arm.

While there have been a lot of positives with Yesavage, there are a few areas he is still working through. While he keeps generating weak contact and limited hits in Buffalo, his command has really dropped off at the new level. He’s allowed 11 walks through 14 1/3 innings, sitting at a 6.9 BB/9 mark. If you get a little nervous when Seranthony Dominguez, Brendon Little, or Jeff Hoffman lets a walk go through, then Yesavage isn’t far off numbers-wise, albeit a smaller sample.

Now, Yesavage has admitted in the past that he takes a second to adjust to a new level, so through five outings, he may still be getting his feet wet in Buffalo. The dilemma with that is, considering he’s already pitched a career high in innings and is now in a newer bullpen role, is there still enough left in the tank to make an impact at the big league level?

That’s a good question, and one that neither I nor you have the answer to. The Jays could very easily call him up for this upcoming series in Toronto in a similar manner that the Pirates worked with Bubba Chandler and have him work out of the bullpen to begin his big league career (Chandler struggled in his recent rotation debut, for those keeping score at home). I can also see an argument that there’s no reason to rush Yesavage and his development despite Toronto’s pending playoff push, keeping him ready to go for a rotation spot to start the 2026 season.

If I had to guess, given the recent injuries to numerous arms in the Jays farm system regarding top prospect pitchers, Yesavage likely finishes the 2025 season in Buffalo and continues to work on his command out of the bullpen. Keep his innings limited, but still getting some reps before the Bisons’ season ends on September 21st. This also makes a bit more sense because the Jays also have Alek Manoah down in Buffalo working back from Tommy John surgery, and the right-hander is finding solid results as of late. If the Jays need some length in the bullpen, he may be a name ahead of Yesavage on the list this year.

Yesavage is a talented arm and one that fans should be excited about. That being said, he’s likely more slated to debut in 2026 compared to September this season.

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