I’d spent the evening in a packed, steam-fogged sports bar on Commercial Drive, where hundreds of Vancouverites gathered to watch what many are calling one of the most remarkable World Series pitching performances in recent memory. The electric atmosphere carried me back to the days when playoff fever gripped this city during the Canucks’ 2011 Stanley Cup run.
“Never thought I’d be cheering this hard for Pittsburgh,” laughed Marcus Chen, a longtime Vancouver Canadians season ticket holder, as he watched rookie sensation Trey Yesavage dominate Game 3 of the World Series. “But when it’s one of our own, you can’t help it.”
For many baseball fans in Vancouver, Yesavage isn’t just another MLB rookie – he’s a testament to the city’s growing importance in baseball’s development pipeline. The 23-year-old right-hander spent crucial developmental months with the Vancouver Canadians last season, the High-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, before his meteoric rise through the system and eventual trade to Pittsburgh.
“He was special from day one,” recalls Brent Lavallee, the Canadians’ pitching coach during Yesavage’s stint at Nat Bailey Stadium. “The velocity was obviously there, but it was his composure and ability to adapt that separated him. Even when he had rough outings, he’d make adjustments between starts faster than most prospects I’ve worked with.”
According to data from Baseball Canada, participation in youth baseball has increased nearly 18% across British Columbia since 2019, a trend many attribute to the Canadians’ success as a development club and the Blue Jays’ national marketing push. The Canadians have sent 36 players to the major leagues since becoming a Blue Jays affiliate in 2011, with attendance at “The Nat” consistently ranking among the highest in minor league baseball.
Last night’s masterpiece – 7⅔ innings of shutout baseball on the sport’s biggest stage – sent ripples through Vancouver’s baseball community. At the Canadians’ front office on Ontario Street, staff gathered for an impromptu watch party as their former prospect struck out nine while allowing just two hits against Cleveland’s potent lineup.
“Everyone was super proud,” said Catherine Bailey, the Canadians’ director of community relations. “When you see someone who wore our uniform just 16 months ago now dominating in the World Series, it validates everything we’re trying to build here. We’re texting videos back and forth with some of our coaches who worked directly with him.”
Yesavage’s journey resonates particularly with Vancouver’s baseball development community. After being drafted in the third round out of East Carolina University, his progression through the Blue Jays system was meteoric, with his time in Vancouver representing a crucial developmental period.
“We had him working specifically on his changeup grip during bullpen sessions,” said former teammate Danny Moretti, now coaching with the UBC Thunderbirds baseball program. “He was already throwing 97-98, but that third pitch is what’s making major league hitters look silly now. That’s the kind of development that happens here.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Yesavage last winter in the trade that sent All-Star first baseman Josh Rivera to Toronto. While Blue Jays fans have certainly appreciated Rivera’s contributions, the trade now appears potentially lopsided in Pittsburgh’s favor.
At The Bullpen, a baseball training facility in Burnaby where several Vancouver Canadians players have conducted winter workouts, young pitchers gathered around screens to study Yesavage’s mechanics during last night’s game.
“His arm path is so clean,” observed pitching instructor Sarah Hoffman, pausing the video to point out details to a group of teenage prospects. “The way he’s hiding the ball and then that late explosion – that’s what makes him special. These kids can learn a lot from watching how he attacks hitters.”
The local connection has sparked impromptu celebrations across the city. The Canadians have announced they’ll host a World Series viewing party at Nat Bailey Stadium for Game 6, should the series extend that far, with proceeds benefiting their youth baseball initiatives.
Statistics Canada reported earlier this year that baseball participation among Canadian youth is experiencing its most significant growth in two decades, with British Columbia showing particularly strong numbers. The success stories of players like Yesavage may be contributing factors.
“Baseball development in Canada has come so far,” notes Baseball BC executive director David Laing. “Twenty years ago, a player would need to head south of the border much earlier to get quality development. Now we’re seeing players refine their skills right here and make impacts at the highest levels.”
For Yesavage, whose Twitter profile still includes a photo from his time at Nat Bailey Stadium, the connection to Vancouver remains meaningful. In postgame interviews last night, he specifically mentioned his time with the Canadians as formative.
“Vancouver was where I really started to figure things out professionally,” he told reporters. “Great coaches, amazing fans coming out every night even for minor league ball. That environment prepares you mentally for moments like this.”
Back at the sports bar on Commercial Drive, as the final out was recorded and Yesavage walked off the mound to a standing ovation, Vancouver fans erupted as if the hometown Canucks had just clinched a playoff series.
“This is what baseball should be about,” Chen told me as celebration continued around us. “Whether it’s the Blue Jays or seeing our Vancouver players succeed elsewhere, it feels like we’re part of something bigger. And man, that kid can pitch.”
