The Texas Rangers took a step toward addressing their bullpen needs by signing reliever Kirby Yates on a one-year deal ahead of the 2024 season. That decision paid dividends, as the Rangers bullpen greatly improved in 2024 thanks in large part to Yates’ outstanding work.
He is a free agent this offseason and is a key piece the Rangers need to consider keeping.
Here are five things to know about relief pitcher Kirby Yates.
1. The basics
Name: Kirby Kali Yates
Born: March, 25, 1987 (Lihue, HI)
Position: Relief pitcher
Bat/Throw: Left/Right
2. Outstanding debut season in Texas
Yates signed with the Rangers on a cheap one-year deal, but his performance in 2024 will make it hard for Texas to retain him.
Not because he wasn’t good, but because he was so stellar as the Rangers closer.
In his first and possibly only season with Texas, he was named an All-Star, had a 7-2 record with a 1.17 ERA, cashed in 33 of his 34 save opportunities and struck out 85 batters in 61.2 innings.
He pitched a scoreless, hitless inning for the American League in the 2024 All-Star Game, which was hosted by the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
A free agent ahead of the 2025 season, it remains to be seen if the Rangers will be the team to give him the raise he certainly earned.
3. He had Tommy John surgery
Yates had Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2021 season.
Since his return from the procedure, Yates has a 7-2 record, a 3.48 ERA and 86 strikeouts a cross 70 relief outings.
4. He received votes for the NL Cy Young
Despite spending his entire MLB career as a reliever, Yates once earned some CY Young recognition.
Yates finished ninth in National League Cy Young voting in 2019. He recorded an MLB-high 41 saves with the Padres that season and earned his first career All-Star and All-MLB First Team selections.
5. He set a Padres record
Yates’ career-low 1.19 ERA in 2019 remains the lowest single-season ERA in Padres history with a minimum of 60 innings pitched.
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