Rookie pitcher makes World Series history as Blue Jays take 3-2 lead over Dodgers ahead of return to Toronto

Trey Yesavage possesses possibly the best story of any player in this World Series. The Pennsylvania native began his 2025 season in Low-A ball before quickly progressing through High-A, Double-A and Triple-A before finally making his MLB debut this past September.

Now there’s a new page to the tale. The 22-year-old pitched a near-flawless Game 5 of the World Series and set the record for the most strikeouts by a rookie in a single game of the Fall Classic.

Yesavage’s 12 strikeouts earned the record, but also tied him for the sixth most K’s in a single World Series game as he led the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-1 victory and a 3-2 series lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Now, with the series heading back to Canada, the Jays will look to win their first title in 32 years.

Those 12 K’s tied Yesavage with Tom Seaver, Walter Johnson, Orlando ‘El Duque’ Hernandez, Bill Donovan, Ed Walsh, and Mort Cooper on the leaderboard. Only Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Carl Erskine, and Howard Ehmke have struck out more than him.

Yesavage’s shift ended after 104 pitches, 71 of which were strikes. He was embraced in the dugout by his teammates and manager John Schneider as he kept the bats of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and more at bay after allowing just three hits and one earned run. 

Not only did he strikeout 12 batters, he also did it without walking anyone. According to MLB stats savant Sarah Langs, that is a first among all World Series pitchers. 

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