The Toronto Blue Jays are aiming for a World Series victory when the league returns north of the border for Game 6. The Jays are leading 3-2 after a stunning comeback from an 18-inning deficit and a stellar performance from rookie Trey Yesavage on the pitcher’s mound.
The rookie has only made three appearances in the big leagues, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at his performance in the postseason. The 22-year-old owns a 3.46 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 39 strikeouts and 10 walks in 26 innings.
Yesavage started Game 5 on October 29in front of a raucous crowd at Dodger Stadium, and he continued to shine. He only allowed LA to score one run on three hits andThere were 12 strikeouts in seven innings.Opponents have hit just a .187 batting average against him in five playoff outings, an absolutely staggering number considering 2025 is his first full season as a professional.
The Blue Jays selected Yesavage in the first round of the 2024 draft, and he has had a meteoric rise in their coaching system. He posted a 3.12 ERA in 96 innings at all four levels of the lower leagues and has clinched a big-league spot in the race for the playoffs and the World Series. The Boston Red Sox have a few promising young pitchers who could produce similar success stories next season.
Blue Jays’ Trey Yesavage gets Red Sox fans excited for 2026 after top pitching prospects Connelly Early and Payton Tolle debut
Bostoncalled up two promising pitchers Payton Tolleand Connelly in the early weeks of the season when the rotation was depleted by injury. Both have struggled, which is understandable after the players’ big-league debuts, but the Sox’ 2026 rotation is likely to be formidable and experienced.
Like Yesavage, Tolle made his major league debut in his first season of professional baseball. He pitched 5.1 innings, scoring two runs and recording eight strikeouts against the Pirates in his first appearance for the Red Sox, but they quickly moved him to the bullpen due to his questionable command. Tolle finished the season with a 6.06 ERA, 19 strikeouts and eight walks in 16.1 big-league innings, but he could make the 2026 big-league roster after some rest and further guidance from Sox managers.
Early has been in the Red Sox system for three seasons, since they drafted him in the fifth round in 2023. He was never as highly regarded as a prospect as Tolle, but he worked his way up the minor leagues and to the No. 6 spot in Boston’s top 30. He posted a 2.60 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 100.1 frames between Double-A and Triple-A, and his dominance gave the Sox theConfidence to call him up in a race to qualify for the play-offs.
In the major leagues, Early posted a 2.33 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and four walks in 19.1 innings. His four shutout appearances helped the Red Sox maintain pace in the playoff race after injuries depleted much of their starting pitching lineup, and he also had a chance to make the major league roster after a stellar performance late in the season.
With the addition of a top-ranked starter during the off-season and the Sox’ young pitchers hitting the big leagues, their 2026 rotation will be extremely dangerous. Combined with gritty hitters like Roman Anthony, and maybe even an excellent slugger like Kyle Schwarber, Boston could be in Toronto’s position next year. Yesavage has proven throughout the postseason that young players can step up when the team needs them most, even with little big-league experience, which should get the Red Sox and their fans excited for a (hopefully) explosive season ahead.
However, Yesavage will certainly be a problem for the Red Sox and other clubs in the American League East for years to come. Fortunately, Early and Tolle will be formidable opponents in the Sox’s arsenal.
