East Carolina RHP Trey Yesavage received the fourth highest bonus in Blue Jays history.

March 1, 2025

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Trey Yesavage was known for two things last July.

The right-hander from the East Carolina Pirates was the first pick of the Toronto Blue Jays.

And he was the “biggest faller” on Day 1 of the draft, according to Baseball America. Ranked 11th on the highly respected magazine’s Top 500 he was expected to go between picks 10 and 15. Yesavage dropped down to the Blue Jays at pick No. 20.

He was given the third highest bonus of $4.18 million US behind only INF-OF Austin Martin, a 2020 first rounder given $7,000,825, and 2019 first rounder Alek Manoah, given $4,547,500. Martin had 196 at-bats in 56 games in the Toronto organization before being sent to the Twins, along with Simeon Woods Richardson for right-hander José Berríos.

The top free-agent Latin sign from this winter was SS Cristopher Polanco, of the Dominican Republic, who was given a $2,297,500 bonus, the 20th highest bonus in franchise history. It was the eighth highest to a free agent.

Despite his fastball being clocked at 98 MPH, Yesavage tumbled out of the teens and landed all the way down at pick 20.

During three seasons with East Carolina, Yesavage made 65 appearances -- including 29 starts over the last two seasons -- totaling nearly 200 innings. In 2024, Yesavage he had an 11-1 record with a 2.03 ERA and 145 strikeouts compared to 32 walks in 93 1/3 innings.

Top dollars in signing bonuses

(Includes year, round drafted (over-all pick) and free-agent status (FA)

INF-OF Austin Martin 2020 1st (5th) $7,000,825 US.

RHP Alek Manoah 2019 1st (11th) $4,547,500.

RHP Trey Yesavage 2024 (1st) (20th) $4.18

OF Enmanuel Bonilla 2023 (FA) $4.1M

SS Adeiny Hechavarria 2010 (FA) $4 M

INF Vlad Guerrero, Jr. 2015 (FA) $3.9 M

LHP Brandon Barriera 2022 1st (23rd) $3.6 M

INF Orelvis Martinez 2018 (FA) $3.5M

INF Jordan Groshans, 2018 1st (12th) $3.4 M

RHP Jeff Hoffman 2014 1st (9th) $3,080,800

SS Arjun Nimmala 2023 1st (20th) $3 M

C Max Pentecost 2014 1st (11th) $2,888,300

SS Logan Warmoth 2017 1st (22nd) $2,820,200

RHP Adonys Cardona 2010 (FA) $2.8 M

RHP Nate Pearson, 2017 1st (28th) $2,452,900

RHP Adam Kloffenstein, 2018 3rd (88th) $2.45

SS Manuel Beltre 2021 (FA) $2.4 million

LHP Ricky Romero 2005 1st (6th) $2.4 M

SS Manuel Beltre 2021 (FA) $2.35M

SS Cristopher Polanco (2025) FA $2,297,500

C Luis Meza 2022 (FA) $2.25M

RHP T.J. Zeuch 2016 1st (21st) $2.175 M

SS Felipe Lopez 1998 1st (8th) $2 M

RHP Deck McGuire, 2010 1st (11th) $2 M

LHP Daniel Norris, 2011 2nd (74th) $2 M

LHP Matt Smoral, 2012 1st (50th) $2 M

INF Tucker Toman 2022 2nd $2 M

RHP Jon Harris, 2015 1st (29nd) $1,944,800

OF Gabe Gross 2001 1st (17th) $1.865 M

RHP C.J. Van Eyk 2020 2nd $1,797,500

SS Russ Adams 2002 1st (14th) $1.785 M

OF D.J. Davis 2012 1st (17th) $1.75 M

OF Travis Snider 2006 1st (14th) $1.7 M

SS Aaron Hill 2003 1st (13th) $1.675 M

RHP Kevin Comer 2011 1st (57th) $1.65 M

OF Vernon Wells 1997 1st (5th) $1.6 M

LHP David Purcey 2004 1st (16th) $1.6 M

RHP Kendall Williams 2019 2nd (52nd) $1,547,500

1B David Cooper 2008 1st (18th) $1.5 M

C Hagen Danner, 2017 2nd (61st) $1.5 M

RHP Roberto Osuna 2011 FA $1.5 M

SS Dickie Joe Thon 2010 5th (156th) $1.5 M

RHP Landen Maroudis 2023 4th (121st) $1.5 M

RHP Billy Koch 1996 1st (4th) $1.45 M

3B Kevin Ahrens 2007 1st (16th) $1,440,000

RHP Eric Pardinho 2017 (FA) $1.4 million

RHP Chad Jenkins 2009 1st (20th) $1.359 M

OF Griffin Conine, 2018 2nd (52nd) $1.35 M

C J.P. Arencibia 2007 1st (21st) $1.3275 M

LHP Johnny King 2024 3rd (95th) $1.2475 M

3B Balbino Fuenmayor 2006 (FA) $1.2

SS Rikelvin De Castro 2019 (FA) $1.2M

RHP Khal Stephen 2024 2nd (59th) $1,116,750

INF Bo Bichette 2016 2nd (66th) $1.1 M

LHP Zach Jackson 2004 1st (32nd) $1.017 M

OF Juaron Watts-Brown 2023 3rd (89th) $1,002,785

OF Jake Marisnick 2009 3rd (104) $1 M

INF Josh Kasevich 2022 2nd $1 M

RHP Yosver Zulueta 2018 (FA) $1 M

SS Juan Sanchez 2025 FA $997,500

C Franklin Rojas 2024 (FA) $997,000

OF Jacob Anderson 2011 1st (35th) $990,000

RHP Roy Halladay 1995 1st (17th) $975,000

OF J.B. Woodman 2016 2nd (57th) $975,000

OF Miguel Negron 2000 1st (18th) $950,000

RHP Dustin McGowan 2000 1st (33rd) $950,000

SS Joe Lawrence 1996 1st (16th) $907,500

OF Andres Arias 2024 (FA) $897,000

RHP Trent Palmer 3rd (77th) Jacksonville $847,500

OF Alexis Rios 1999 1st (19th) $845,000

INF Cade Doughty 2022 2nd $833,600

RHP Asher Wojciechowski 2010 1st (41st) $815,400

LHP Brett Cecil 2007 1st (38th) $810,000

LHP Griffin Murphy 2010 2nd (61st) $800,000

C Guillermo Quiroz, 1998 FA $800,000

RHP Peter Bauer 1998 2nd (45th) $800,000

OF Dwight Smith Jr. 2011 1st (53rd) $800,000

SS Christian Lopes 2011 7th (229th) $800,000

OF Dasan Brown 2019 3rd (88th) $797,500

SS Elaineiker Coronado, 2025 FA) $797,500

RHP Aaron Sanchez 2010 1st (34th) $775,000

SS Joesphang Bernhardt 1997 FA $770,000

SS Miguel Hiraldo, 2017 FA $750,000.

3B Matt Dean 2011 13th (409th) $737,500

OF Shawn Green 1991 1st (16th) $725,000

LHP Diegomar Markwell 1996 FA $705,000

RHP Jose Pett 1992 FA $700,000

INF Kennew Blanco 2025 $597,500

RHP Chris Carpenter 1993 1st (15th) $580,000

3B Sean Keys 2024 4th (125th) $569,700

RHP Carson Messina 2024 12th (367th) $550,00

OF Alan Roden 2022 3rd $497,500

INF Kevin Witt 1993 1st (25th) $470,000

IF Nick Mitchell 2024 4th (136th) $467,500

RHP Nick Frasso 2020 4th $459,000

OF Shannon Stewart 1992 1st (19th) $450,000

OF Todd Steverson 1992 1st (25th) $450,000

RHP Jackson Wentworth 2024 5th (158th) $412,100

C Jonathan Peguero 2021 (FA) $400,000

LHP Connor O’Halloran 2023 5th (157th) $337,500

OF Yeuni Muñoz 2021 (FA) $315,000

OF Jace Bohrofen 2023 6th (184th) $302,200

C Aaron Parker 2024 6th (187th) $297,500

SS Nick Goodwin 2023 7th (214th) $236,200

LHP Mason Fluharty 2022 5th $222,500

RHP Austin Cates 2024 7th (217th) #222,500

LHP Kendry Rojas 2020 (FA) $215,000

RHP Nolan Perry 2022 12th $200,000

C Sammy Hernandez 2022 14th $200,000

RHP Troy Guthrie 2024 11th (337th) $200,000

Major leaguers in bold

Elliott: Jays’ top bonus babies - Yesavage, 3rd overall, Polanco 20th