Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage was a huge reason for the team's dream run to the 2025 World Series.
Entering last year, nobody expected him to be a factor given he was taken in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft and had not even spent a year in the minor leagues. But he rose quickly through the system and earned a spot in the starting rotation.
Although he entered this season with a right shoulder impingement that caused him to miss the first month, expectations were naturally high for the 22-year-old rookie.
Despite his success last year and the history he made during the postseason, Yesavage still retained his rookie status due to being a late September call-up.
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Yesavage's season has been solid in stretches, but there is one area that has become a growing concern for the Blue Jays, and that is his command.
Last year, including the postseason, he collected 55 strikeouts and 18 walks, good for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.06. His command was locked in and it showed. However, that has been a significant issue this year.
During Saturday's start against the San Diego Padres, Yesavage lasted just 1 2/3 innings. He allowed seven walks, four earned runs and recorded just one strikeout.
This marks the fourth time this year he has allowed more than five walks in a single outing. In fact, only 10 of his first 30 pitches were strikes.
His strikeout-to-walk ratio this season sits at 1.77, a steep drop-off from a year ago, and as a result his ERA now sits at 3.72 through 14 starts.
Yesavage still has a bright future in MLB, but clearly something is wrong mechanically that is preventing him from consistently locating the strike zone. He still holds his spot in the rotation and should continue to given how inconsistent veterans Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer have been.
But the walk totals are a real problem. The more baserunners he allows via the free pass, the more runs he has allowed, and if the command issues persist into the second half, the Blue Jays will have to address it more seriously.
