Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage and Jonah Tong finish as candidates for the top pitch in the minor leagues

He spent 2025 within two affiliated leagues: high-A and single-A. Herring finished with an 8-4 win-loss record and 1.84 ERA in 23 games. He threw 119 and 1 / 3 innings with 149 strikeouts, 49 walks, and 70 hits allowed. 

The other two candidates are also strong possibilities in this running. Yesavage has had a solid year within the Toronto Blue Jays organization and is now up in the major leagues. Tong has mirrored this by also making it to the show, putting up numbers on a big-league level. 

Yesavage worked in four levels in the minor leagues: A, A+, AA, and AAA. His total statistics between the four stints resulted in a 5-1 record, a 3.12 ERA, 3.58 RA9 in 25 games played and 98 innings. 

He’s allowed 39 runs, 34 unearned on 54 hits. Yesavage struck out 160 hitters, only walking 41. The 22-year-old maintained a 41.1% strikeout rate with an average of seven to eight strikeouts per game. Yesavage showed very impressive numbers and output, leading to a call-up and potential postseason involvement. 

Tong has exceeded expectations and is a top candidate for the award. The New York Mets’ top pitching prospect climbed the ladder really quickly in the organization. His performance and numbers were spectacular, leading him to the big leagues. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB draft, Tong pushed the envelope with work ethic and output. 

Tong’s progression got him into double-A and triple-A this season, before getting called to Queens. He held a .661 win-loss percentage with a 10-5 record between the two levels. Tong finished the minor leagues with 113 and 2 / 3 innings pitched, a 1.43 ERA, and 1.58 RA9 in 22 games.

Of 442 batters faced, Tong struck out 179 hitters, walking only 47, and allowing only two home runs. The right-hander has shown dominance, reaching goals and providing depth in the Mets’ big-league rotation. 

Tong, Yesavage, and Herring are the top candidates for this year’s awards; the competition is tight, and nothing is guaranteed for this pool of awards.