Trey Yesavage and his family will never forget what transpired on Sunday afternoon in Toronto.
Making just his fourth career start, Yesavage pitched the game of his life, striking out 11 hitters across 5 1/3 innings of no-hit ball. The 22-year-old fueled the Blue Jays to a 13-7 win and a commanding 2-0 lead in the ALDS over the Yankees, as over 44,000 fans showered him with repeated standing ovations.
That group included some of Yesavage’s immediate family: His dad (Dave), mom (Cheryl), and one of his brothers (Cole) journeyed north from Pottstown, Pa.
After the triumph, Yesavage fought back tears while talking about the importance of his family.
“They’re my people,” Yesavage said. “They’re the reason I’m here right now. I couldn’t love them more. Mom, Dad, Cole, Chase — you’re at college — I love you guys.”
Despite his inexperience, Yesavage does not lack confidence. On Saturday, he said that he was “built for this.” His family knew that to be true, too.
“I was nervous, but there is just something about him, I felt like he could do it,” Cheryl Yesavage told Sportsnet during Sunday’s game. “I love the comment [Saturday] that he was built for this. I believe that.”
“We knew Trey had a job to do,” Dave Yesavage said. “I could tell you, just when he was making his first debut in the big leagues, we were pretty teary-eyed. But this, we knew Trey could do it.
“He’s worked so hard. He built a pitcher’s mound in the backyard, however many years ago, and would throw at a target when I couldn’t be there to catch the ball, or his brothers couldn’t be there to catch the ball. We knew he was in good hands with all of our Canadian family.”
The “Canadian family” at the Rogers Centre was raucous. And it sure didn’t hurt that Yesavage could count on the unwavering support of his immediate family, too.
