What Trey Yesavage said after record-setting World Series performance for Toronto Blue Jays
Trey Yesavage helped get the Toronto Blue Jays within one win of a World Series title with a record-setting performance in Game 5.
The 22-year-old came into Dodger Stadium in his first-ever postseason start on the road, went seven full innings, all while recording 12 strikeouts and holding L.A. to three hits all night. In the process, Yesavage set the MLB record for strikeouts by a rookie in a World Series game.
That was more than his Blue Jays teammates needed, as Toronto took Game 5 by a score of 6-1 to give the team a 3-2 series lead as things shift back to Canada for Games 6 and 7.
It was perhaps the most impressive postseason outing for a pitcher in Blue Jays history, and you could tell Yesavage was pumped after the game.
“First time on the road in the playoffs, hearing a lot of crap talk in the bullpen [from Dodgers fans]. I think it’s funny,” Yesavage told Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae. “It fuels me, and I told Pete [Walker] when I was warming up, this is just a lot of fun.”
"I gave everything I had for this team." 💙
After his masterful performance in Game 5 of the #WorldSeries, Trey Yesavage chats with @thehazelmae. pic.twitter.com/nty6j1FNzO
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 30, 2025
Yesavage didn’t have his best stuff during his first start of the World Series back in Game 1, despite the Jays taking the opener by a score of 11-4. That wasn’t the case in Game 5, as the Pennsylvania native was rock solid in all seven innings pitched.
He knew before the game that he had a good grip on the ball.
“I was warming up in the outfield, I knew it was on,” Yesavage said. “I knew I could have a feel for it tonight.”
There was one moment where things started to get concerning. Yesavage had overthrown a few pitches, hit one batter, and was starting to look a little shaky. Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk decided to slow things down, pay Yesavage a mound visit, and that seemed to get the young ace back to his good stuff.
Yesavage told Mae what Kirk told him in that moment to steady him.
“He just said, I got this, I was built for this situation, and trust myself,” Yesavage said. “I’m glad he came out. It slowed me down, because I needed that in that moment.”
Unfortunately, this will most likely be Yesavage’s last appearance for the Blue Jays, barring any potential Game 6 or 7 hijinks. If this is indeed it for this season for the young pitcher, he gave an amazing sign-off message to Blue Jays fans.
“I gave everything I had for this team, for this organization. I’m so grateful to be in this situation. I gave everything to the fans, gave everything to Canada and all the stops that I made along the way. I’m just so blessed to be in this position.”