The Toronto Blue Jays may have one more card to play to aid their chances of winning the AL East and making a deep run in the postseason.
That card has been moved up to Triple-A, one step from the big leagues.
MLB.com's Keegan Matheson reports that right-handed pitcher Trey Yesavage has promoted from Double-A to Triple-A. Yesavage was the Blue Jays' first-round pick in 2024 out of East Carolina.
Toronto's leadership has acknowledged this season that Yesavage could pitch his way into late-season usage at the MLB level, and now he's closer.
So far in the minor leagues this season, Yesavage has put up a 3.01 ERA with a ridiculous 42.3% strikeout rate.
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The Blue Jays opted against trading Yesavage before the trade deadline, likely a good move for the long term, and one that looks even better if he can come up and help the major league club in the short term, too.
On MLB.com's updated prospect list, Yesavage is ranked No. 26 in all of baseball.
The Blue Jays have a strong rotation right now, so a late-season Yesavage promotion to MLB would likely see him come out of the bullpen. He just did that in his final appearance at Double-A. It'll be interesting to see how Toronto uses him at Triple-A Buffalo. If he's relieving there, it's a clear tell of what is coming next.
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It's been a magical season in Toronto. The Blue Jays finished last in the AL East in 2024 but are currently first in the division now.
They've been on one of the best runs in baseball since the start of June, and it doesn't seem like a fluke.
An addition of Yesavage from the minor leagues would be the kind of move that could put the Blue Jays over the top. And at this point, it seems a matter of when, not if.
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