Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage on facing the New York Yankees: 'I'm built for this'
Photo credit: https://www.mlb.com/
Toronto Blue Jays rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage is calm, cool, collected and most of all...confident.
Rookie sensation Trey Yesavage (1-0, 3.21 ERA) made just three starts in September, but he showed the Blue Jays enough to earn the Game 2 start.
Yesavage opened the season in Single-A and climbed every single rung of the ladder on his way to the big leagues, dominating hitters at every level.
Trey Yesavage is absolutely brilliant in his first start at the Rogers Centre 🌟
5 IP | 5 H | 0 R | 2 BB | 5 K
The Blue Jays' top prospect (MLB No. 25) racks up 14 whiffs and fires his fastest big league pitch (96.9 mph K).
5 IP | 5 H | 0 R | 2 BB | 5 K
The Blue Jays' top prospect (MLB No. 25) racks up 14 whiffs and fires his fastest big league pitch (96.9 mph K).
Now, the 22-year-old gets the biggest challenge of his life in facing the Yankees.
Yesavage has struck out 16 batters in 14 innings in the big leagues, and in the Minors, his strikeout rate was an eye-popping 14.7 K/9.
Yesavage sets hitters up with a heavy fastball that lives in the 94-96 mph range, but his splitter is the star of the show, barreling down from a sky-high release point to create constant whiffs.
There's some real deception between Yesavage's fastball and splitter, making it important that the Yankees have never seen the young righty.
Yesavage on accepting the game 2 assignment from manager John Schneider and the pressure of facing the New York Yankees
Yesavage said he was "beyond floored" when Schneider told him this week that he'd start Game 2 and called his parents later that night. They're planning to make the drive from Pennsylvania to attend the game.
"I've experienced a lot this year. This is my fifth team I've been with. I've met the entire organization," said Yesavage. "But being here in this spot, I couldn't have drawn it up any better."
Schneider said the Blue Jays preferred to start Yesavage in Game 2 and have right-hander Shane Bieber pitch Tuesday's Game 3 at Yankee Stadium in part because the veteran is a better fit to handle the "hostile environment in New York."
Also this gives Yesavage enough rest if he is needed later in a relief role in game five.
Former Sportsnet analyst Sid Seixeiro didn't hold back with his thoughts on the Yankees chances against Yesavage.
I know Trey Yesavage has only appeared in three major league games and I know New York have multiple former MVP's in their lineup but after listening to these comments I'm convinced the Yankees today are screwed.
As for his calm demeanour, Yesavage notes that it was something he developed while pitching in big games for East Carolina in the NCAA Regionals.
"I think my time in college playing in front of a bunch of rowdy fans and then going on the road to a bunch of fans that hate you," said Yesavage. "Being able to stay even-keeled and not ride the highs and ride the lows, just being calm and controlling my breath and just being in the present moment."
Sure, collegiate baseball is vastly different than the majors, of course, yet Yesavage can spot the throughlines.
"I would say it's kind of the same," he said. "Having to go out there and perform at your best to help your team win a championship. At the end of the day, you have the same goal. It's to win.
"Granted, there's going to be a lot more fans here, and there's going to be a lot more energy surrounding this place, but I'm built for this."
Trey Yesavage is ready for his first postseason start for the Blue Jays. 😤
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 5 | 467 ANSWERS Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage on facing the New York Yankees: 'I'm built for this' Will Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage get his first postseason win against the Yankees in game 2 of the ALDS? | ||
| Yes | 436 | 93.4 % |
| No | 16 | 3.4 % |
| Too early to tell | 15 | 3.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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