It didn't take long for Arjun Nimmala to impress Blue Jays fans in the Grapefruit League this season. The same applies to highly-anticipated No. 2 ranked prospect and starting pitcher Trey Yesavage. Yesavage made his professional debut with the Blue Jays in the Spring Breakout game against the Minnesota Twins.
The Blue Jays shut down the Twins 10-0 and Yesavage bedazzled on the mound. The 21-year-old came into the game in the third inning, dominating with three strikeouts while surrendering only two hits. He commanded the mound with his fastball that hit 97 mph.
Nimmala has also been impressive, recording a home run, four RBIs, two hits, and a .972 OPS across eight at-bats in camp this season. Both are looming on the horizon for the Blue Jays' big league roster, but what does the immediate future hold for these two young talents?
Blue Jays prospect Arjun Nimmala gaining valuable experience
23 Yesavage 😎
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 15, 2025
Trey Yesavage's #BlueJays org debut: 2 IP, THREE Ks! pic.twitter.com/bCaOTZlq1P
At just 19 years of age, Nimmala is not expected to make his MLB debut for a few more years. He knows that he still needs time to develop as a player. He's had highs and lows in his career, and while he dealt with struggles in 2024,he's used them as fuel to improve his game.
Making adjustments is an important part of developing as a player, especially as they climb the minor league ranks. In an interview with MLB.com's Keegan Matheson, Nimmala commented on how his struggles have taught him a life lesson on the importance of resiliency.
"“Nobody wants to struggle, but it’s a valuable lesson for me coming so early. There are a lot of notable Major Leaguers who struggled early in their career. To mention one, Derek Jeter. Jeter struggled early in his first season.""Arjun Nimmala
Back-to-back @BlueJays 💪
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 5, 2025
Arjun Nimmala (MLB No. 86) and Alan Roden (TOR No. 5) each lace 105+ mph homers. pic.twitter.com/vgUXLueQqt
Nimmala is ranked as a top-100 prospect in MLB.com's 2025 prospect rankings. In addition, he brings a lot to the table with his offense. He has high-upside power and, once he fully fills out his frame, can be an annual 30-homer threat. While his MLB debut won't be anytime soon, he's a spark plug who should ascend the organization quickly.
Nimmala has gained the opportunity to get acquainted with the Blue Jays MLB players and staff this spring. Getting a feel for what's to come for him in the future will give him some valuable experience ahead of a crucial 2025 season.
Trey Yesavage has big expecations but even bigger potential
Yesavage's entrance into the majors is anticipated to be sooner. He ranks second among all Blue Jays prospects, behind only Nimmala. In addition, his impressive tools could give him the green light to fast-track to the majors.
After being selected in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Yesavage didn't appear in any games last summer, though his work in the Spring Breakout Game should offer plenty of optimism for the young righty.
When it comes to his four-pitch repertoire. it is a force to be reckoned with. It includes a dominant fastball and slider/cutter, along with a developing splitter and curveball.
His height also carries an advantage (6-foot-4), making him an imposing threat on the mound. But if Yesavage wants to stand tall in the big leagues, he will need to increase his depth in terms of innings pitched. Revamping his workload will be significant after he topped out at 93.1 innings in college. Yesavage is also working on fine-tuning the command with his fastball and adding more pitches to his arsenal.
Nevertheless, he could be the Blue Jays' ace of the future. Given the uncertainty surrounding the team post-2025, Yesavage's potential will be a key building block for Toronto.