Trey Yesavage is turning Pennsylvanians into Jays fans, says high school coach

Boyertown, Penn., has always been a big baseball town. But now, as one of their own becomes a rising star in the World Series, it’s quickly becoming a Blue Jays town, too.

Trey Yesavage, the 22-year-old rookie Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, was born in Pottstown, Penn., and grew up in nearby Boyertown, where he played for his high school team, under coach Todd Moyer.

“I was at a bowling alley and there was people there with Yesavage T-shirts on, uniform shirts,” Moyer told As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal. “There’s a lot of Toronto Blue Jays fans in PA.”  

Yesavage, who began this season deep in the minor leagues, has captured Blue Jays fans' hearts during the World Series — especially during Game 5 on Wednesday when he struck out L.A. Dodgers players 12 times, breaking the Major League Baseball record for most strikeouts by a rookie in a post-season game.

Moyer, Yesavage’s former coach and old family friend, spoke to Kӧksal on Thursday, the day before Game 6 in Toronto. Here is part of their conversation. 

Todd, what is happening to you as you watch [Game 5] unfold?

I've seen him strike out a lot of younger guys. But for him to strike out the Yankees the way he did and then go back out in L.A., you know, in that hostile environment, and absolutely handle it like a true professional was just amazing. You know, I can't describe it any other way except amazing. 

You speak to his parents regularly. You just were messaging with his dad, right?

Definitely. His mom grew up a couple miles away from me, but I was actually the baseball coach when she was in high school, so that's been a while. And she was a pretty good athlete. He comes by it honestly, as far as his athletic ability. It's a pretty athletic family.

But for him to do