A baseball player from North Carolina has etched his name in World Series history. Trey Yesavage, a standout from East Carolina University, delivered an impressive performance on October 29, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series.
In only his eighth major league appearance, Yesavage recorded a remarkable 12 strikeouts, setting a new record for a rookie in a World Series game. He surpassed the previous record of 11 strikeouts, held by Don Newcombe since 1949. Yesavage pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits and a single earned run, and notably did not issue any walks throughout the game.
Following the game, Yesavage attributed his historic outing to his strong faith in himself, his teammates, and God. “Coming into this game, it was all about getting ahead, getting into my counts and throwing what I wanted in two-strike counts,” he expressed in an interview with MLB Network.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised Yesavage’s performance during the postgame press conference, humorously remarking on how “pretty good” he was. Schneider noted the significance of Yesavage’s achievements at such a young age, saying, “Historic stuff … when you talk about his age and his numbers. It’s one thing to be in the [strike] zone, and it’s another thing to be in the zone and get some swing and misses. So, slider and split were electric. I said it before the game, it’s a different pitcher when he has his stuff.”
Yesavage’s stellar performance has placed the Blue Jays just one game away from securing their first World Series title since 1993. The team now leads the series 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for Friday in Toronto, and a potential Game 7 also set to take place there if necessary.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Yesavage played an instrumental role at ECU, helping lead the team as a regional host in the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. Over his three-year collegiate career, he recorded nearly 200 innings pitched across 65 games, achieving a commendable 2.58 ERA. This achievement not only highlights Yesavage’s talent but also emphasizes the bright future that lies ahead for this promising young pitcher.