.jpg)
4 hours ago
1
It's a long way from Dunedin.
Trey Yesavage began the 2025 baseball season with the Toronto Blue Jays' Single-A affiliate in Dunedin.
On Friday night, he'll be taking the mound in the Rogers Centre to throw the first pitch of the World Series. The Blue Jays have named him as their Game 1 starter.
Has there ever been a more bonkers rise to that honor?
It's not that Yesavage wasn't expected to be this good eventually.
It just happened so fast.
He made seven starts at Single-A Dunedin. Then it was four starts at High-A Vancouver. After that, eight appearances at Double-A New Hampshire.
Yesavage pitched six more times for Triple-A Buffalo. He was still with the Bison in early September, throwing three scoreless innings in Rochester before finally getting an MLB call up.
And now this. The biggest stage in baseball. Here's the ball, kid. Go get 'em.
MORE: This 27-year old infielder will get a World Series ring no matter whether Dodgers or Blue Jays win
The Dodgers will counter with Blake Snell, who has been the most untouchable pitcher this postseason in a way that has to go way back in history to find someone else who has been this good (namely, Sandy Koufax).
Yesavage struck out 11 in 5.2 shutout innings in his first outing of these playoffs. He got hit around in his second start, then was pretty solid in his third.
The Blue Jays' rotation has solid depth, but it'll be Yesavage getting the ball after three regular season outings and three postseason outings.
He probably doesn't even know yet what he doesn't know. That could work in his favor.
Yesavage on the mound, Shohei Ohtani digging in, a brilliant way to start the World Series on Friday night.
English (US)