Blue Jays Pitcher Trey Yesavage Struggles in Latest Rehab Start on Tuesday
The Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff has been derailed by injuries, yet one player remains on the verge of returning, and he has the potential to make a major impact. That player is right-hander Trey Yesavage . The 22-year-old became a postseason hero last October, helping lead Toronto to the World Series.
He made a remarkable climb through four levels of the system before debuting last September. He delivered three impressive regular‑season starts, striking out 16 hitters over 14 innings with a 3.21 ERA. That performance earned manager John Schneider’s trust and positioned him as a key part of the franchise’s future.
However, Yesavage carried the heaviest workload of his professional career last year, and his right arm did not fully recover heading into camp. He has spent the early portion of the season on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement.
Yesavage has been on a rehab assignment for most of April, and Tuesday he made his fourth rehab start at Triple-A, one that could have been his final outing before returning to the MLB roster.
Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, it did not go as planned. Yesavage struggled significantly, allowing four runs and issuing four walks. He failed to make it out of the third inning, recording just seven outs.
Even though rehab results are not the clear priority, the lack of command was concerning, and what made matters worse was a noticeable velocity dip. After sitting at 94.9 mph in the first inning, his fastball dropped to 93.7 mph ( h/t Thomas Hall of Blue Jays Nation ). He threw only 37 strikes out of 64 pitches.
Now the Blue Jays have a legitimate decision to make. They could rush him back to the rotation because their depth has been gutted, with Jose Berrios , Shane Bieber and Cody Ponce all on the IL, or they could send him out for another rehab start and hope for better execution.
Neither option is ideal for a team entering Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels with a 9-13 record. Toronto needs Yesavage to be a stabilizing force, but his latest outing makes it clear the organization must balance urgency with caution as it decides his next step.
Related: Blue Jays Make Decision Before Diamondbacks Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
