Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage delivers win over Red Sox in first start of rookie season, receives standing ovation
Yesavage broke out in 2025 as Toronto made its World Series push, and now he's an AL Rookie of the Year favorite in 2026.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage made the first start of what’s technically his rookie season on Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox. The 22-year-old righty didn’t collect double-digit strikeouts like he did during his last start, a seven-inning masterpiece against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the 2025 World Series , but he did set forth what could be an AL Rookie of the Year campaign. After beginning the season on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement , Yesavage made his long-awaited return to the mound in a 3-0 victory over the Red Sox (12-18).
He picked up the win, giving the Blue Jays (13-16) 5 1/3 innings of shutout ball. He needed 74 pitches to reach that point, logging three punch-outs along the way. Trey Yesavage receives a standing ovation after a scoreless outing in his 2026 debut 👏 pic.
twitter. com/u9AbJ3xh5T — MLB (@MLB) April 29, 2026 Yesavage conceded four hits, only one of the extra-base variety, and didn’t issue a walk. He finished strong, stringing together a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth and then striking out Willson Contreras in the sixth before Toronto turned to its bullpen.
By that point, Toronto had all three of its runs, courtesy of RBI singles from Kazuma Okamoto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. When Blue Jays manager John Schneider took the ball from Yesavage, the Pottstown, Pennsylvania, native received a standing ovation from appreciative fans who graciously welcomed him back. “It was awesome,” Yesavage said of the reception he got at the beginning and end of his start, via 6ix Inning Stretch Podcast’s Lindsay Dunn .