Things did not go as planned for the Blue Jays in 2024, as they finished bottom of the AL East despite having playoff aspirations. Their core is now in question, as trade rumors are swirling around Bo Bichette and Vlad Jr. Their farm system is confusing, as there is some talent, but there is no standout prospect. Trey Yesavage fell in their laps at 20. He might be just what the doctor ordered for Canada’s team, as he projects out as a good, steady mid-rotation starter for the Blue Jays who could be up sooner rather than later, as he is a ready-made starter that the Angels were looking at drafting and dropping him in the majors. They bolstered their system with the Yusei Kikuchi trade, adding Jake Bloss and Will Wagner, both top 5 prospects in this system, among other pieces. The Blue Jays system is not the strongest, but a strong crop of 45s will contribute at some point this season. With the Blue Jays major league team being in a state of flux, there will be plenty of opportunities for players like the aforementioned Will Wagner and pitchers like Adam Macko to carve out roles.
About Our Top 20 Lists
Prospects Live, led by its evaluating team & Director of Scouting Rhys White, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team combines industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible view of the prospects in the organization.
We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.
In addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a 'Risk' associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked hard to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.
Below you'll find the top 5 players in the system with a full report for the #1 prospect in the system. The full rankings and scouting reports on all top 20 prospects per team will be available on our Patreon at the 55-tier ($5) as we publish them. We’ll also have additional content on Patreon for each team: Honorable Mentions, Top 10 players 25 years and under, and Team MLB Dynasty Rankings.
Top 5 Team Rank and Scouting Report for #1 System Prospect Below
1. Trey Yesavage, RHP
DOB: 7/28/2003, HT: 6-4, WT: 225, H/T: R/R, Acquired: 2024, Round 1 ($4,175,000)
Highest Level: NCAA, ETA: 2027, Rule V: 2027
OFP: 55
FB: 55, CB: 50, SL: 60, SPL: 60, Command: 55
Risk: High
Scouting Report:
East Carolina has churned out quite a few pitching prospects in recent years, including Gavin Williams and Carson Whisenhunt, but Yesavage has the chance to be the best of the group. A reliever his first year on campus, Yesavage’s command took a big jump forward in a starting capacity as a sophomore, and it continued as a junior, striking out 145 batters to the tune of a 2.03 ERA. Yesavage’s delivery is relatively stiff, and he works from an over-the-top slot, though he has above-average command of his arsenal and pumps strikes consistently. The higher slot hampers his fastball a bit, though the fastball averages over 20 inches of vertical break and plays well at the top of the zone. As a result, he missed bats at a 27% clip this spring, though that may come down in the minor leagues. However, his secondaries benefit from the high slot, and he attacks the vertical axis of the zone with excellent results. The mid-80s slider is a firm breaker with gyro break, acting like a cutter sometimes, though it missed bats over 55% of the time in 2024 despite its modest shape. The low-80s splitter took a massive jump in 2024 as Yesavage threw it at Will with impressive tumble and command. It’s a true plus pitch with incredible results. There’s a low-80s curveball with massive depth in his back pocket, though he has yet to utilize it a ton, and it is projected to be an average offering. There’s a high-floor starter package here with mid-rotation starter upside, thanks to two plus pitches and excellent command. - Tyler Jennings
Fantasy Spin:
The Blue Jays were thrilled that Yesavage fell to them at the 20th pick of this summer’s amateur draft. He became an ace at East Carolina and dominated his AAC competition all season. He struck out batters at 40.3% in his Junior season using his four-pitch mix and above-average command. He’s the rare high-floor arm with the potential to grow into much more. His four-pitch mix and above-average command should allow him to move quickly through the system and help the Jays at the highest level before too long. He should be the third arm off the board in your FYPDs and considered at any point after pick 10. - Greg Hoogkamp