According to a recent report by Keegan Matheson at MLB.com, the Toronto Blue Jays are set to promote a trio of pitchers from single-A Dunedin to the West Coast. Right-handers Trey Yesavage, Khal Stephen, and Gage Stanifer are all reportedly heading to join the Vancouver Canadians shortly, with the news not made official by the club at this time. The 17-20 squad will get a boost with the addition of the three hurlers, as the Canadians will be on the road next week in Eugene to face the Emeralds, the San Francisco Giants’ affiliate.
Yesavage, the organization’s #2-ranked prospect, has been dominant out of the gate to the tune of a 2.43 ERA through seven starts and 33 1/3 innings. He’s amassed a 14.9 K/9 and a 0.810 WHIP while facing 127 batters, and his 55 punchouts sit fourth in the minor leagues, just five back of Rays prospect Ian Seymour. He’s limited opponents to a 5.1 H/9 while keeping the walks under control to a 2.2 K/9 note. Working with a four-pitch mix, the right-hander has generated 108 whiffs this season (22.1% of all his pitch outcomes) and has mixed his 4-seam fastball, cutter, and changeup to generate the strong results while tossing the occasional slider
Stanifer is also heading to Vancouver. The right-hander followed Yesavage in his Dunedin outings, a combo deal that dominated from start to finish.
Stanifer has been an early riser this year in the system, as the 21-year-old was still figuring things out in the lower levels through 2023 and 2024. This season, he has generated a 0.69 ERA and a 2.49 FIP through 26 innings, throwing bulk relief appearances while adding two saves into the mix.
He’s posted a 0.846 WHIP in the process and limited opponents to just ten hits and two earned runs, generating a minuscule 3.5 H/9 while striking out 38 batters (13.2 K/9). His command hasn’t been as dialled in as Yesavage’s or Stephen’s, allowing 12 walks (4.2 BB/9), but his pitch mix has been effective in Dunedin. It will be interesting to see if the club keeps the 1-2 tandem together in Vancouver or whether Stanifer will get some chances to start games.
Rounding out the group is Khal Stephen, the second-round pick of the Blue Jays last summer.
In his first pro season, he’s made eight appearances (seven starts) and has authored a 2.06 ERA through 39 1/3 innings of work. Stephen strikes out fewer batters compared to Yesavage and Stanifer, with a still impressive 11.0 K/9 mark, but his command is more honed in, allowing just seven free passes to the point of a 1.6 BB/9. He’s allowed just 29 hits in the span with nine runs allowed and boasts an impressive 0.915 WHIP. Stephen sports a 2.22 FIP for his efforts and has held opponents to a .200 average.
All three hurlers will provide a boost to the Canadians’ pitching staff, with the club sitting fourth in the Northwest League standings through 37 games. They will join Arjun Nimmala, the organization’s top prospect.
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