Betts: Yesavage makes first pro appearance in Blue Jays Spring Breakout game

Toronto Blue Jays’ 2024 first-round pick Trey Yesavage threw two scoreless innings in his first professional appearance in Saturday’s Spring Breakout Game. Photo: Matt Betts

March 15, 2025

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The long wait to pitch in a professional game for 2024 first-round pick Trey Yesavage is over.

While it’s only spring training, it counted all the same for Yesavage who’s been anticipating the opportunity since he was drafted last July.

“It’s definitely been long, slow, methodical, every detail has been accounted for,” Yesavage said.

“It’s finally amazing to be out there pitching in a Blue Jays uniform.”

The former East Carolina Pirate relieved starter Jake Bloss to begin the third inning in an eventual 10-0 win over a lineup of Minnesota Twins prospects during the Spring Breakout game.

After a heavy workload at ECU last season where he went 11-1 with a 2.03 ERA, he didn’t pitch for any Blue Jays affiliate post-draft.

Despite his significant success at the college level, Yesavage admitted this was a different experience.

There were some nerves, but the 6-foot-4 right-hander was able to settle in and throw two scoreless innings, allowing a pair of hits and striking out three.

“When I went out there, my heart was beating,” he said.

“It’s my first professional baseball outing so I kind of expected it, but I was able to settle myself down in the dugout and focus on what I needed to do.”

While all this remains new, there is some familiarity at Blue Jays camp for the team’s No. 2 prospect.

Fellow East Carolina alum Jeff Hoffman has tried to make him feel comfortable in his first time through the process.

“He stopped me in the hallway one day, which was really cool,” Yesavage said.

“He’s a great guy. He said he enjoyed watching me last year and it’s someone I can definitely look up to.”

When it comes to expectations for this upcoming season, he and the team have yet to publicly establish what his workload will look like.

Regardless of what’s set out for him, he’s looking forward to engraining himself in the professional baseball.

“Obviously, I haven’t thrown a professional season yet, so I’d need to get one under my belt to set a goal like that,” Yesavage said of a potential workload.

“The goal is to stay healthy and not take any off weeks during the season, so go week in and week out.”