Kirby Kali Yates (born March 25, 1987) is an American professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
for the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...
,
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
,
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
,
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
,
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
, and
Texas Rangers.
Yates made his MLB debut in 2014, and was an
All-Star
An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry.
Sports
"All-star" as a sport ...
in
2019
This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year.
Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...
, when he led the
National League
National League often refers to:
*National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada
*National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...
in
saves. He made the All-Star team again in
2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
.
Early career
Yates was drafted by the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
in the 26th round of the
2005 Major League Baseball draft
The 2005 Major League Baseball draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams. It is widely considered to be one of the best drafts in recent memory.
''SourceMajor L ...
out of
Kauai High School
Kauai High School is a public high school in Lihue, Hawaii. It is named after the island Kauai and is part of the Hawaii Department of Education.
Kauaʻi High School serves students from ninth through twelfth grades. It was the first public high ...
in
Lihue, Hawaii
Līhue () is an unincorporated community, census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. Līhue is the second-largest town on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, following Kapaa. As of the 2010 census, th ...
. He did not sign and attended
Yavapai College
Yavapai College is a public community college in Yavapai County, Arizona. The main campus is in Prescott, with locations in Clarkdale, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Sedona.
History
Yavapai College was established in 1965 by means of a ...
. He missed both the 2006 and 2007 seasons due to
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...
.
Professional career
Tampa Bay Rays
After going undrafted in the
2009 MLB draft
The 2009 Major League Baseball draft was held June 9 to June 11 at the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.
The drafting order is as follows:
First-round selections
Key
Supplemental first-round selections
From Baseball Americ ...
, Yates signed with the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...
as an amateur free agent on June 22, 2009, and began his professional career with the
Princeton Rays
The Princeton Rays were a Minor League Baseball team in Princeton, West Virginia, operating as an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League. The team was affiliated with several Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises, primarily the Ta ...
of the
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Collegiate summer baseball, collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wooden ...
. In 2010, he spent most of the season with the
Bowling Green Hot Rods
The Bowling Green Hot Rods are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and play their home games at Bowling Green Ballpark, which ...
of the
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...
, where he was 3–6 record with a 3.30 ERA in 27 games (12 stars).
He was promoted to the
Charlotte Stone Crabs
The Charlotte Stone Crabs were a Minor League Baseball team located in Port Charlotte, Florida, from 2009 to 2020. They competed in the Florida State League (FSL) as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball (MLB) ...
of the
Florida State League
The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...
on August 12, but made only one start before he was shut down for the year with a strained right shoulder that required offseason surgery.
The surgery caused him to also miss the first two months of the 2011 season before rehabbing in the
Gulf Coast League
The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the low ...
and then rejoining Charlotte on June 22.
[ Yates made 16 appearances with them, allowing only six runs in innings over 16 appearances][ and played with the ]Surprise Saguaros
The Surprise Saguaros are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Surprise, Arizona, at Surprise Stadium. The ballpark is also the spring training facility of the Kansas City Roya ...
in the Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season baseball league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are filled ...
after the regular season ended.[
In 2012, Yates reached the Double-A level with the ]Montgomery Biscuits
The Montgomery Biscuits are a Minor League Baseball team based in Montgomery, Alabama. They are the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and play in the Southern League. The team was founded in Orlando, Florida, in 1973 as the Orlando Twins ...
, where he had a 2.65 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 68 innings over 50 games.[ His 12.44 strikeouts per nine innings led all Southern League pitchers and he again returned to the Arizona Fall League, this time with the ]Phoenix Desert Dogs
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), an immortal bird in ancient Greek mythology
* Phoenix, Arizona, the capital of the U.S. state of Arizona and the most populous state capital in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
...
.[ Yates was a Triple-A All-Star in 2013, putting up a 1.90 ERA in 51 games for the ]Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Durham, North Carolina, and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened ...
. He was also selected as the Rays organizations Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year while recording 16 saves.[
Yates was added to the Rays 40-man roster on November 20, 2013 and made 21 appearances for Durham, allowing only one run in 25 innings.][ Yates was called up to the majors for the first time on June 7, 2014, and made his debut that day, pitching scoreless innings against the ]Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...
with two strikeouts (his first being against Brad Miller
Brad may refer to:
* Brad (given name), a masculine given name
Places
* Brad, Hunedoara, a city in Hunedoara County, Romania
* Brad, a village in Berești-Bistrița Commune, Bacău County, Romania
* Brad, a village in Filipeni, Bacău, Romania
* ...
). In 37 games, he posted an ERA of 3.75 in 36 innings, striking out 42. The following season he struggled, posting an ERA of 7.97 in innings for the Major League club[ and 5.68 in innings for Durham as he shuttled back and forth between the majors and minors.][
The Rays ]designated
Designation (from Latin ''designatio'') is the process of determining an incumbent's successor. A candidate that won an election, for example, is the ''designated'' holder of the office the candidate has been elected to, up until the candidate's ...
Yates for assignment after the 2015 season.
New York Yankees
On November 25, 2015, the Rays traded Yates to the Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
for cash considerations. He was subsequently designated for assignment on January 5, 2016, and three days later traded to the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
in exchange for cash considerations. Yates made the Yankees' Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent year ...
roster in 2016 and pitched in relief for the Yankees for most of the season, although he was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 28, and then recalled on August 17. In 41 games for the Yankees, he posted an ERA of 5.23 and 50 strikeouts in innings.[
]
Los Angeles Angels
After the 2016 season, the Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
claimed Yates from the Yankees on waivers. He was designated for assignment on April 2, 2017, after failing to secure a spot in the Angels bullpen during spring training, and he was outrighted from the 40-man roster and sent to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team that plays in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Based in South Jordan, Utah, the team plays its home games at The Ballpark at Am ...
on April 5. After six games in the minors, Yates made his Angels debut as a reliever on April 22 against the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
and allowed a two-run home run to Kevin Pillar
Kevin Andrew Pillar () (born January 4, 1989) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Colorado ...
before retiring the next three batters he faced. He was designated for assignment the next day.
San Diego Padres
On April 26, 2017, Yates was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
. He excelled relieving for the Padres, striking out 87 in innings and going 4–5 with a 3.72 ERA in 61 games.[ Yates credited his success this season to the development of a ]split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is an off-speed pitch in baseball that initially looks like a fastball from the batters perspective, but then drops suddenly. Derived from the forkball, it is aptly named because the pitcher puts the index a ...
in the spring which he began throwing more often with the Padres.
In 2018, Yates began the season as the setup man to closer Brad Hand
Bradley Richard Hand (born March 20, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida/Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, Washington ...
. He briefly went to the disabled list in early April with an ankle injury, but returned after two weeks. At the trade deadline, the Padres traded Hand, thus handing over the closer role to Yates. He ended the season with a career low 2.14 ERA in 65 appearances and was 12 for 13 in save opportunities with 90 strikeouts in 63 innings.[ At the conclusion of the 2018 season, Yates was selected to represent Major League Baseball at the ]2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series
The 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series was the twelfth edition of the MLB Japan All-Star Series, a best-of-six series between an All-Star team from Major League Baseball (MLB) and for the second time in series history, the Japanese national team, Samu ...
.
In 2019, Yates was selected as the Padres' sole representative at the All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that showcases the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or division, bu ...
. For the season, he led all major league pitchers in saves, with 41. He also recorded a 1.19 ERA and struck out 101 batters in innings[ and was named to the 2019 ]All-MLB Team
The All-MLB Team is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) honor bestowed upon the best players across both leagues at each position during the season. Selections to the first and second teams are determined by a fan vote and a panel consisting of ...
.
He ended the season with only six appearances during the pandemic shortened 2020 season, allowing six runs in innings before he was shut down because of bone chips in his elbow.
Toronto Blue Jays
On January 20, 2021, Yates signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
. However, on March 22, he was diagnosed with a flexor strain and he underwent a second Tommy John surgery on March 24, ending his season.
Atlanta Braves
On November 29, 2021, Yates signed a two-year, $8.25 million contract with the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
. On July 16, 2022, he pitched a perfect inning in the Florida Complex League
The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the low ...
, his first game at any level since August 2020. Yaes was activated off of the injured list on August 10 and allowed four runs in seven innings in nine games at the end of the season.[
In 2023, his first full season since 2019, he pitched innings over 60 games, allowing 22 runs for a 3.28 ERA.][ On November 6, 2023, the Braves declined the option on Yates' contract for the 2024 season, making him a free agent
]
Texas Rangers
On December 6, 2023, Yates signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers. In 61 games, he allowed eight earned runs in innings for a 1.17 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and converted 33 of 34 save opportunities.[ He was named to his second career All-Star team.
]
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 30, 2025, Yates signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
.
Personal life
His brother, Tyler Yates
Tyler Kali Yates (born August 7, 1977) is an American police officer and former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Career Oakland Athletics
Yates atten ...
, also played in Major League Baseball. Tyler has since been a police officer in Kauai.
Yates married his long time girlfriend Ashlee on January 2, 2016. She owns a business that places sitters with professional athlete families, Homerun Sitters LLC. His hobbies include surfing and golfing.
See also
*List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
The following is a list of annual leaders in saves in Major League Baseball (MLB), with separate lists for the American League and the National League. The list includes several professional leagues and associations that were never part of MLB.
...
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yates, Kirby
1987 births
Living people
Atlanta Braves players
Baseball players from Hawaii
Bowling Green Hot Rods players
Charlotte Stone Crabs players
Durham Bulls players
Florida Complex League Braves players
Gulf Coast Rays players
Los Angeles Angels players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Montgomery Biscuits players
National League All-Stars
New York Yankees players
Sportspeople from Kauai County, Hawaii
People from Lihue, Hawaii
Phoenix Desert Dogs players
Princeton Rays players
Salt Lake Bees players
San Diego Padres players
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players
Surprise Saguaros players
Tampa Bay Rays players
Texas Rangers players
Yavapai Roughriders baseball players