Arnold Goes Deep Twice, Yesavage and Stanifer Combine for 17 Ks In Win Over Lakeland
DUNEDIN, FL - The Dunedin Blue Jays were firing on all cylinders as they defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers 12-3 on Saturday night at TD Ballpark in game five of a six-game series. After falling behind 3-1 in the 5th inning, Dunedin scored 11 unanswered runs. The Jays are nine
DUNEDIN, FL - The Dunedin Blue Jays were firing on all cylinders as they defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers 12-3 on Saturday night at TD Ballpark in game five of a six-game series.
After falling behind 3-1 in the 5th inning, Dunedin scored 11 unanswered runs. The Jays are nine for their last 19 (.473) with runners in scoring position. Over the first five games of the series vs. Lakeland, Dunedin is batting .276 with a .919 OPS as a team, and their 10 home runs are more than any other Class-A team for the week.
Trey Yesavage and Gage Stanifer combined to strike out 17 Flying Tigers, the most strikeouts in a game by Dunedin’s pitching staff this season.
Daulton Varsho appeared in his first game on MLB Rehab Assignment with Dunedin, and went 0-for-3 but reached on an error in the 1st
RHP Trey Yesavage (5 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 10 K) fired five innings and fanned 10 Flying Tigers without issuing a walk. Yesavage retired the first 12 batters he faced in order and was perfect over his first four innings of work. His first six strikeouts came over a span of seven batters. The Blue Jays No. 2 prospect recorded 18 whiffs on 37 swings for a 49% whiff rate. Yesavage topped out at 96.3 MPH on his fastball, which averaged 94.5 MPH. Over his first three professional starts, Yesavage has posted a 2.84 ERA over 12.2 frames with 18 strikeouts and opponents’ batting .182.
1️⃣0️⃣ STRIKEOUTS FOR TREY YESAVAGE!
— Dunedin Blue Jays (@DunedinBlueJays) April 19, 2025
Through three starts this season, the Blue Jays top pitching prospect has a 2.84 ERA with 18 K in 12.2 IP. pic.twitter.com/YH6k431nfi
RHP Gage Stanifer (4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 7 K) hurled four shutout innings with seven punchouts and only one hit allowed, to pick up his FSL leading third win of the season. Over his first three outings this season, all in a piggyback role following Yesavage, Stanifer has allowed one run in 12 innings with 20 strikeouts, six walks, and only four hits allowed, good for a 0.83 WHIP. Stanifer’s three wins are T-1st in the FSL, and he ranks among league leaders with a 0.75 ERA (4th), 20 strikeouts (T-3rd), .095 BA (1st), and a 0.83 WHIP (3rd).
SS Bryce Arnold (3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2B) recorded the first multi-homer game of his career, with a two-run blast in the 6th inning and solo shot in the 8th. All three of Arnold’s hits on Saturday went for extra-bases, and seven of his nine hits this season have been for extra-bases. His three hits and three runs scored in the contest both match career highs. His homers left the bat at 98.7 MPH and 102.9 MPH. Arnold ranks among FSL league leaders with 4 HR (T-1st), 13 RBI (T-6th), .442 OBP (7th), .806 SLG (2nd), 1.248 OPS (1st), 7 XBH (T-2nd), 25 TB (T-6th), and 11 R (T-4th). Arnold has hit safely in four straight games, with seven RBI over his last four contests.
🚨A TWO-HOMER GAME FOR BRYCE ARNOLD🚨 pic.twitter.com/22G8h5SmqG
— Dunedin Blue Jays (@DunedinBlueJays) April 20, 2025
LF Yhoangel Aponte (1-for-4, 3 RBI, 3B, 2 R) roped a bases clearing three-run triple in the 6th inning to untie the ballgame and give Dunedin a 6-3 lead. Aponte has an extra-base hit and RBI in back-to-back games. Aponte entered Friday without an RBI on the season and now has 5 RBI over his last two games. After he went hitless over the first two games, Aponte is 8-for-30 (.267) with four extra base hits, five RBI, and a .853 OPS over his last eight games.
2B JR Freethy (3-for-5, RBI, 2 R, 2B) notched a career-high three hits, including an RBI single in the 3rd inning to open the scoring. Freethy’s 11 runs scored this season are tied for tops on the team and are T-4th in the FSL.
RF Yeuni Munoz (1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB) tallied a pair of RBI in the contest, marking his second straight multi-RBI game and fourth multi-RBI performance this season. Over his last four games, Munoz is 8-for-16 (.556) with 3 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB, 2B, 7 R. Over his last ten games, Munoz has four home runs and 17 RBI. Munoz ranks among FSL leaders batting .308 (10th) with 4 HR (T-1st), 16 RBI (T-2nd), .438 OBP (9th), .692 SLG (3rd), 1.130 OPS (4th), 7 XBH (T-2nd), and 27 TB (4th).