The Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff is already down multiple arms just one week into the regular season due to injury. One right-hander the team is hoping to get back who can elevate the rotation is Trey Yesavage.
The 22‑year‑old was selected as Toronto’s first-round pick less than two years ago in the 2024 MLB Draft. Yet Yesavage experienced a historically fast rise to the big leagues in 2025, moving through four levels of the minors before making his MLB debut last September.
He continued to shine the moment he arrived in Toronto, posting a 3.21 ERA across three regular season appearances before earning a spot in the postseason rotation and helping lead the Blue Jays to the World Series.
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However, last year was the heaviest workload of Yesavage’s professional career, and as a result he developed a right shoulder impingement that lingered into spring training. The injury required a slow ramp up process that ultimately led to him being placed on the 15-day injured list prior to Opening Day.
Still, Yesavage has continued throwing off the mound in simulated games with the goal of returning by May. And on Friday, the Blue Jays decided his progress was encouraging enough to officially begin his rehab assignment earlier than expected.
The Dunedin Blue Jays, Toronto’s Single-A affiliate, announced that Yesavage would get the start on Friday, marking the official beginning of his rehab stint.
Yesavage will now have 30 days to work his way back onto the big-league roster. Manager John Schneider spoke with reporters before Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox and explained the decision.
“Kind of just talking with him, after his last bullpen, with how he felt and what everything looked coming out, decided this was the best chance to kind of get his clock going,” Schneider said (h/t Mitch Bannon of The Athletic).
With Yesavage making steady progress, it is a welcome sign for Toronto. Despite what will be a delayed start to his 2026 season, he remains a frontrunner for American League Rookie of the Year once he returns.
With the Blue Jays rotation stretched thin, getting their most talented young breakout star back on schedule could be huge in stabilizing the staff.
