Trey Yesavage, Arjun Nimmala headline Blue Jays’ latest minor-league assigments

Yesavage excelled to a 2.03 ERA and 1.81 FIP over 15 starts during his final season at East Carolina University in ’24, striking out 145 batters while only walking 32. The 21-year-old righty made his unofficial organizational debut in last month’s Spring Breakout game against the Minnesota Twins’ farm system, punching out three over two innings of two-hit ball.

The towering hurler, standing at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, touched 97 m.p.h. on the radar gun with his over-the-top four-seamer, which averaged 95.5. He also featured a cutter, splitter and sinker during his highly-anticipated pro debut. His arsenal also includes a slider and spike curveball, according to MLB Pipeline.

Stephen also made his unofficial pro debut in that prospects showcase following Yesavage out of the bullpen, completing two scoreless innings of work while allowing just one hit and zero walks with one strikeout.

Having Yesavage start this season in Dunedin, where he’ll undoubtedly induce loads of swing and miss, will allow him to get his feet wet and avoid the cold spring temperatures in Vancouver ahead of what’ll likely follow a mid-season promotion to the Canadians.

Upon arriving, the organization’s top pitching prospect will join the most exciting young hitter in the system, Nimmala, who’s been assigned to high-A following his sensational 2024 performance at single-A.

As most remember, last season began rather poorly for Nimmala, as he struggled to a .167/.280/.306 slash line over his first 29 games, striking out in nearly 35 per cent of his 125 plate appearances. But following a reset in the Florida Complex League, the then-18-year-old took off upon returning to single-A, hitting .265/.331/.564 with 13 home runs, 38 RBIs and a 146 wRC+ across his final 53 contests.

The young shortstop only appeared in six exhibition games with the big-league club during spring training earlier this year. But he connected on his lone home run in Grapefruit League action against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 5.

Given that Nimmala — Toronto’s No. 1 top prospect — is only 19, chances are he’ll almost certainly spend most of this season with the Canadians, if not the entirety of it.

Other notable prospects who featured on the Canadians’ Opening Day roster include ’24 draftees Sean Keys (fourth round), Aaron Parker (sixth round), Eddie Micheletti Jr. (eighth round) and Carter Cunningham (10th round).

The Blue Jays have yet to make any announcements regarding left-hander Johnny King, last year’s third-round selection. But considering he didn’t pitch for the rest of the season after being chosen out of Naples HS, he’ll likely start at rookie ball in the FCL before advancing to single-A.

Both Dunedin and Vancouver will begin their respective ’25 seasons this Friday.