Major League Scouting Report On Toronto Blue Jays’ Trey Yesavage

TORONTO, CANADA – AUGUST 9: Toronto Blue Jays draft pick Trey Yesavage gives an interview before an MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Rogers Centre on August 9, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/Getty Images)

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The Toronto Blue Jays have promoted their top prospect, right-handed pitcher Trey Yesavage to their Triple-A Buffalo club.

Yesavage, who just turned 22 July 28, is moving quickly, as this is his first season in minor league development.

Yesavage pitched at Class-A, Class-A Advanced, and Double-A this year in the Blue Jays minor league program.

Yesavage was promoted to Buffalo after appearing in 19 games this season, with 18 of them starts

At the start of play August 13, Yesavage had pitched 80.2 innings, throwing to a fine 3.01 ERA, and sparkling 0.93 WHIP.

Over the span of this season, Yesavage has compiled an amazing 15 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. He walked 3.3 hitters per nine.

About Trey Yesavage:

AT 6-4, 225 pounds, Yesavage has a very solid physical presence on the mound.

Yesavage attended high school at Boyertown High School, in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.

Yesavage was The Blue Jays 1st round draft pick in 2024. He was the 20th player chosen in the draft.

Selected out of East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, Yesavage was given a $4,177,500 signing bonus by Toronto.

While at East Carolina, Yesavage complete three seasons on the mound. He threw 29 starts among the 65 games in which he pitched.

In 195.1 innings on the mound, Yesavage threw to an outstanding 2.58 ERA, and a 1.03 WHIP.

He struck out an average of 13.6 hitters per nine innings, while walking 3.4 per nine.

Of great significance to this old scout, is the fact Yesavage has not yielded many home runs in either college or his first year as a professional with the Blue Jays.

Yesavage yielded only 16 homers in three seasons at East Carolina, and only eight long balls this season in his minor league development.

At one point during his college career, Yesavage missed time with a collapsed lung. However, he returned to pitching, with no issues.

Scouting Trey Yesavage:

Yesavage began his collegiate career in the bullpen at East Carolina. However, in 2023, he became a starter as a sophomore, and a very effective one, at that.

By his junior year, Yesavage was the “ace” of the East Carolina rotation.

According to the prospect rankings at MLB.com, this season Yesavage has assumed the No. 1 prospect position in the Blue Jays organization.

Yesavage supplanted Blue Jays left-handed prospect pitcher, Ricky Tiedemann to claim the top prospect spot.

On the mound, Yesavage has the ability to repeat his delivery, making mechanical issues negligible.

Note that in both pictures showing Yesavage pitching at East Carolina, his delivery slot was almost identical.

One concern might be Yesavage’s short stride on the mound, as he doesn’t get much extension. However, he doesn’t “cut off” his pitches, as some pitchers with short arm extensions have a tendency to do.

Yesavage throws his fastball at 93-95 miles per hour.

Yesavage also throws a wicked, 86-87 miles per hour slider.

His fastball and slider form an outstanding tandem of pitches in his current, four-pitch mix.

Both his fastball and slider are grade 60 pitches, which are well above the average.

Yesavage completes his repertoire with both a splitter, and curveball. Of the two pitches, the split is probably more advanced. His split is a good weapon for him against left-handed hitters.

To date, Yesavage has shown good command of his arsenal, with his control not as sharp as he or the Blue Jays may want, but it is improving.

At the major league level, he will want to reduce the walks from allowing three per game in both college and his first year in his Blue Jays development.

Scouting Grade: 60

This old scout feels Yesavage has the repertoire, the mound presence, and the physicality to potentially become an occasional All Star.

His Grade 60 by this scout places him in an eventual No. 2 or No. 3 spot in the Blue Jays rotation.

There is too much to like about Trey Yesavage to think he won’t find success on a big league mound.

From his physicality, to his fine fastball/slider combination, to his mound presence, the Blue Jays should be very happy with the eventual results they get from their overall top prospect.