TORONTO — Just over a year ago, Trey Yesavage threw his first pitch in double A.
In the time since, the 22-year-old Boyertown native was called up by the Blue Jays, pitched in the American League Championship Series and the World Series, and has established himself as a key member of Toronto’s rotation.
Read more Jhoan Duran blows his first save in Phillies’ 3-2 walk-off loss to the Blue Jays
It’s still hard for him to wrap his head around how quickly it happened. Yesavage’s double-A debut for the Toronto affiliate New Hampshire Fisher Cats was on June 12, 2025. The game happened to be in Reading, less than 20 miles away from Yesavage’s hometown, and the stands were packed with his friends and family.
It marked just one of four promotions for Yesavage last year as he ascended from single-A to the majors in the span of six months.
“It’s been an insane journey,” Yesavage said. “I’m just so blessed to be in this clubhouse every day with these guys.”
Yesavage grew up a Phillies fan and maintains his Eagles fandom. He won’t pitch against his hometown team in this series, as Dylan Cease and Max Scherzer are both returning to Toronto’s rotation from the injured list this week.
But Yesavage has the Blue Jays’ visit to Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 7-9 circled on his calendar, and he hopes that things will work out so that he can pitch there.
“Being a Philly fan is different,” Yesavage said. “I’m still an Eagles fan, so I embrace the Philly energy and toxicity. So I kind of get it. But I’m just excited to play in front of those people.”
Yesavage said he grew up attending minor league games in Reading as a kid, since it’s so close to Boyertown. Even though he’s never been a member of the Phillies organization, the Fightin’ Phils are honoring him on July 5 for Boyertown Day, distributing a bobblehead that depicts him as a Boyertown Bear.
“It’s me in my high school jersey,” Yesavage said. “It’s weird that I’m with a different organization. I played there against those guys, and it’s cool, but it’s weird.”
Yesavage graduated from Boyertown Area High School in 2021, and starred at East Carolina University before he was drafted in the first round by Toronto in 2024.
His unusually high arm angle and signature splitter helped him fast-track to the majors. After his whirlwind 2025, Yesavage started this season on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. In his eight starts since being reinstated, he has a 3.16 ERA.
Throughout it all, support back in his hometown has been constant.
“Got a lot of energy, lot of support from those people, especially in the playoffs,” Yesavage said. “Some of the elementary schools were having Blue Jays Days, and wrote letters to me, and it’s really cool to see support from ages five and up who can actually understand baseball. So love those people, and they’re the reason why I’m here right now.”
Extra bases
Toronto moved the scuffling Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to the leadoff spot for Tuesday’s game for the second time in his career. He was 1-for-4 through eight innings on Tuesday. “I’m sure [Toronto manager John Schneider] is trying to get something going, give Schneids a different feel for Vlad. I’m hoping it doesn’t really work — for a few days,” interim manager Don Mattingly said. … Left-handed reliever Kyle Backhus (left elbow inflammation) began a rehab assignment Tuesday with triple A Lehigh Valley. … Jesús Luzardo (4-4, 4.56 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale against Blue Jays right-hander Scherzer (1-3, 9.64). Scherzer will be making his first start since April 24, after which he was placed on the injured list with right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.
Read more Bucks County man accused of creating child porn using X’s AI chatbot, Grok