Let’s talk about Trey Yesavage, who’s writing one of the greatest rookie scripts in World Series history with the Blue Jays. If you haven’t heard his name yet, where have you been? Because after what he just pulled off in Game 5, this 22-year-old is now baseball’s breakout phenom.
From Low-A to the World Series in One Wild Ride
Yesavage began the 2025 season dogging it out in Low-A ball. Fast forward a few months, and now he’s on the mound in the World Series, slicing through the Dodgers’ lineup. Four levels of the minors in one season. MLB debut in September. Now, World Series hero. You cannot write this stuff.
During Game 5, he pitched the performance of a lifetime: twelve strikeouts, no walks, just one earned run, and three hits. He dominated a Dodgers lineup featuring MVPs like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, making them look ordinary.
Strikeout Showcase for the History Books
And those 12 strikeouts weren’t just impressive; it was also a rookie record for strikeouts in a single World Series game. He’s now tied for most strikeouts in a World Series game by a rookie, matching legends like Tom Seaver and Walter Johnson. Not bad company for a kid who just a few months ago wasn’t even heard of.
And get this: no rookie pitcher in World Series history has ever reached 12 strikeouts with zero walks until Yesavage. According to reports, it’s the first time a rookie has achieved that combination on the sport’s biggest stage.
Blue Jays Bats Bring the Thunder Early
The rest of the Jays produced offensively as well. We have to mention Davis Schneider, who opened the game with a home run. Two pitches later, Vlad Jr. followed him. It was 2-0 quickly. Dodgers’ ace Blake Snell was under pressure as the Jays kept scoring early.
Even when Enrique Hernández cut into the lead with a solo shot in the third, Toronto responded immediately. Sac-fly, wild pitch, and clutch singles from Bichette and Kiner-Falefa kept increasing the lead as the Dodgers struggled to respond.
Now the series heads north. Blue Jays lead 3-2, and the city is excited. Game 6 is Friday night at Rogers Centre. Kevin Gausman will pitch for Toronto; the Dodgers turn to Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
All of which leads to the big question: after what we just saw from Yesavage?
Good luck to anyone facing this momentum.
