Kirby Yates

Kirby Kali Yates (born March 25, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, and Texas Rangers.

Yates made his MLB debut in 2014, and was an All-Star in 2019, when he led the National League in saves. He made the All-Star team again in 2024.

Early career

Yates was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 26th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft out of Kauai High School in Lihue, Hawaii. He did not sign and attended Yavapai College. He missed both the 2006 and 2007 seasons due to Tommy John surgery.

Professional career

Tampa Bay Rays

After going undrafted in the 2009 MLB draft, Yates signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an amateur free agent on June 22, 2009, and began his professional career with the Princeton Rays of the Appalachian League. In 2010, he spent most of the season with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Midwest League, where he was 3–6 record with a 3.30 ERA in 27 games (12 stars). He was promoted to the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League 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 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 in the Arizona Fall League after the regular season ended.

In 2012, Yates reached the Double-A level with the Montgomery Biscuits, 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. Yates was a Triple-A All-Star in 2013, putting up a 1.90 ERA in 51 games for the Durham Bulls. 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 with two strikeouts (his first being against Brad Miller). 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 Yates for assignment after the 2015 season.

New York Yankees

On November 25, 2015, the Rays traded Yates to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations. He was subsequently designated for assignment on January 5, 2016, and three days later traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. Yates made the Yankees' Opening Day 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 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 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 and allowed a two-run home run to Kevin Pillar 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. 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 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. 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.

In 2019, Yates was selected as the Padres' sole representative at the All-Star Game. 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.

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. 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. On July 16, 2022, he pitched a perfect inning in the Florida Complex League, 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.

Personal life

His brother, Tyler Yates, 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

References

External links

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{{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