The Toronto Blue Jays are one win away from their first World Series title in over thirty years, and a surprise rookie is a huge reason why.
In Wednesday’s pivotal Game Five, Trey Yesavage put on a performance for the ages. Yesavage took the mound and threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing only one hit and striking out 12 batters.
The rookie fearlessly faced the Dodgers’ lineup of MVPs and future Hall of Famers, setting a new record for strikeouts by a rookie pitcher in a World Series game. After his huge night, Yesavage’s girlfriend showed her support on social media.
A Rookie’s Star-Making Moment
“Still crying,” Taylor Frick posted on her Instagram story. Frick and Yesavage met one another during their time at East Carolina University, and she’s been by his side on his rise to the major leagues.
The Blue Jays called Yesavage up to the major league roster in September, adding him as they made their push to the best record in baseball and ultimately the American League pennant.
“Just an amazing human who happens to be really (like really) good at baseball,” Frick said on September 15, when Yesavage made his major league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays. “Feeling like the proudest girlfriend in the world today, wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Yesavage made his postseason debut against the New York Yankees in the ALDS earlier this month. In 5 2/3 innings, Yesavage struck out 11 batters and did not allow a single run or hit. The Blue Jays went on to win the series, then defeated the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS for the right to play in the World Series.
The 2025 World Series Has Been Historic
The 2025 version of the Fall Classic has been one to remember so far, as Yesavage’s 12-strikeout day wasn’t the only historic moment of the week.
The Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays on Monday night in what ended as the longest game in World Series, punctuated by Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the 18th inning.
The series now shifts back to Toronto for Game 6 on Friday night. The Blue Jays will be back in front of their home crowd with a chance to clinch the franchise’s first championship since 1993.
We’ll see if they can clinch the championship, or if the defending World Series champion Dodgers can force a winner-take-all Game 7.
