Trey Yesavage’s struggles in Buffalo opener no big surprise

by | Aug 15, 2025

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Trey Yesavage during his first season in professional baseball, it’s that he doesn’t always have the best starts.

When the ECU alum first appeared for Low-A Dunedin, High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire, he struggled in his opening game. Add Thursday’s first game with the Buffalo Bisons and he has 17 walks in those openers. However, as the Blue Jays Prospect Tracker account notes, he has just 17 walks in his other 16 appearances.

Yesavage only went 1.2 innings in Thursday’s game with Lehigh Valley. He gave up a hit, two earned runs, four walks and struck out three on 57 pitches.

“Nerves always get the best of me whenever it’s my first outing with a new team,” the right-hander said to Sportsnet.ca reporter Kristina Rutherford. “I know I’m the same guy and I’ll be better for it next week.”

Yesavage walked in Lehigh Valley’s first run after loading the bases in the first inning.

“The only pitch I had today was a slider — splitter and fastball were not competitive,” he said.

After picking up his third strikeout in the second inning, his night was complete.

“Through not even two innings, getting up to almost 60 pitches is a lot, so they want to look out for me and look out for my health,” he said. “Just too many long counts — pitch count got up. It gets to a point.”

Yesavage told Sportsnet.ca he’s enjoyed the rise from Low-A to one step away from pitching with the Toronto Blue Jays. Only an injury will likely keep him off the postseason roster.

“It’s been an awesome ride — a lot of packin’ up, a lot of unpackin’” Yesavage said, with a grin. “Fourth team this year, but it’s been a great time.”

Yesavage left with a 2-0 deficit but did not factor in the decision. Buffalo scored four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to win 10-5.

Photo credit: Trey Yesavage (Buffalo Bisons photo)

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