The China Mail - Rookie pitcher Yesavage to face Ohtani, Dodgers in World Series opener

Yesavage, 22, was named on Thursday to start game one as the Blue Jays look to draw first blood against the defending Major League Baseball champions in the best-of-seven series.

The hard-throwing right-hander is the youngest pitcher to start a game one since Ralph Branca opened the 1947 World Series for the Dodgers at the age of 21 years and 267 days.

The choice of Yesavage to open on Friday caps a remarkable rise for the rookie, who started the 2025 season playing in the minor leagues for Single-A Blue Jays affiliate Dunedin -- the fifth tier of baseball in the United States.

After making only three regular-season starts, Yesavage has shone in the post-season, striking out 11 batters in a 13-7 win over the New York Yankees, and winning a pivotal game six against Seattle in the American League Championship Series.

Friday's opener represents the sternest test yet for Yesavage, who will face a Dodgers batting lineup led by Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

Yesavage admitted on Thursday he could still scarcely believe the evolution of his season.

"I wake up every single morning and I thank the Lord that I'm here in this situation," Yesavage said. "It's something I never even would have dreamed of, but I'm here now and I'm embracing it fully."

Asked about the prospect of facing Ohtani, Yesavage replied: "He's a special player. He can do damage on both sides of the baseball.

"But it doesn't take away the fact that we are in this situation, too, for a reason.

"So just going out there and being ourselves and if there's adjustments that we need to make to try to neutralize him, we'll make those adjustments."

Yesavage's journey to the World Series comes after a nomadic season spent bouncing around the minor leagues, with his stint in Dunedin followed by spells with the Vancouver Canadians, New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Buffalo Bisons.

"You should see my truck right now. It looks like a mobile home," Yesavage joked on Thursday.

"Many different stops. Now I'm changing hotel rooms every time we leave and come back. So I've had to consolidate and only bring necessities in my suitcase with me."

D.Pan--ThChM