The Toronto Blue Jays have mapped out the next step for top pitching prospect Trey Yesavage as he works his way back from a right shoulder inflammation that has sidelined him all season. The plan, revealed before Friday's game, involves one final tune-up.

Yesavage will make one more rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo next week, pushing his return to the major league rotation to late April at the earliest. This careful timeline is designed to ensure he's fully built up for the grind of an MLB season.

His most recent outing came Wednesday for Buffalo, where he threw 71 pitches over 4.1 innings. The right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out five. The focus for his next start will be extending his pitch count toward the 80-mark, a key threshold for a starter preparing to rejoin a big-league rotation.

For Jays fans, the wait for Yesavage's 2026 debut has been a test of patience, given his electrifying introduction last fall. The 2024 first-round pick rocketed through the minors and became an instant postseason hero in 2025. He not only won crucial games in the ALDS and ALCS but delivered a legendary performance in Game 6 of the ALCS to save Toronto's season, followed by a dominant 12-strikeout victory in Game 5 of the World Series.

Despite that playoff pedigree, his late 2025 debut means he's still technically the organization's No. 1 prospect and ranks No. 9 overall in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. That status will change the moment he takes the mound for Toronto this season.

While any injury is a concern, the delayed start could be a strategic blessing in disguise for the long season. Managing his workload early may keep the 22-year-old's arm fresher for a potential playoff push. Despite a sluggish 7-11 start, the Blue Jays' sights remain set on another deep October run, and a healthy, impactful Trey Yesavage is central to that ambition.