A detailed view of the Toronto Blue Jays logo on a building at TD Ballpark. Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Blue Jays pitching prospect makes franchise history in MLB debut

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Sep 15, 2025 11:09 PM ET

The present is looking pretty nice for the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays, and after Monday, so does their future.

Right-handed starting pitcher Trey Yesavage, 22, shone in his MLB debut, pitching five innings in a 2-1 extra-innings win over the Tampa Bay Rays (73-77).

Yesavage, Toronto's No. 1 prospect, allowed three hits and one run with nine strikeouts in 69 pitches. Per MLB.com's Sarah Langs, his 19 swings and misses were tied for the fifth-most by a pitcher in his major-league debut since 2008.

most swings & misses by a pitcher in his MLB debut, pitch-tracking era (2008): 3/30/24 Jared Jones: 22 4/3/08 Johnny Cueto: 21 4/1/24 Shota Imanaga: 20 5/30/13 Alex Colome: 20 9/15/25 Trey Yesavage: 19 9/9/25 Connelly Early: 19 5/13/18 Freddy Peralta: 19 h/t the wizard @jasonbernard.bsky.social
— (@slangsonsports.bsky.social) 2025-09-16T01:14:06.551Z

Per MLB.com, he set the Blue Jays franchise record for most strikeouts in a debut.

Trey Yesavage sets a record for most strikeouts by a @BlueJays pitcher in his MLB debut pic.twitter.com/LNkwKWLjby
— MLB (@MLB) September 16, 2025

Yesavage settled in quickly after allowing a single and a double to the first two hitters he faced. At one point, he struck out five consecutive Rays batters, punctuated by getting catcher Nick Fortes out swinging in the bottom of the fourth on an 84 mph splitter.

Debut Dealing

Trey Yesavage has struck out FIVE in a row pic.twitter.com/QfST7xWWNp
— MLB (@MLB) September 16, 2025

Of his nine strikeouts, eight came via splitter or slider, with Yesavage quickly showing off his devastating off-speed pitches.

Why Trey Yesavage won't be in Blue Jays' playoff rotation

By being a mid-September call-up, Yesavage won't factor in Toronto's postseason plans. Per MLB rules, only players who were on the 40-man roster or 60-day injured list on Sep. 1 at noon are eligible for the playoffs. But his stellar performance is an excellent sign for 2026 and beyond.

Starting pitchers Chris Bassitt, 36, and Max Scherzer, 40, are free agents at the end of the season, while Kevin Gausman, 34, is only under contract through 2026. The sooner Yesavage can lock down one of the spots in the rotation, the easier it will be for the Blue Jays to replace their aging starters.

The Blue Jays (88-62) have a five-game lead over the New York Yankees (83-67) for first in the AL East and are the frontrunners at sportsbooks to win the AL pennant. As much as they have to play for the rest of 2025, Yesavage's promising debut is a sign that the stakes could be just as high next year.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

More must-reads: