Page 209 - 2026 Los Angeles Angels Media Guide

Kirby
K irby
39 YATES

◆ Finished tied for ninth in voting for N.L. Cy Young Award, the highest finish by a San Diego pitcher since Heath Bell
in 2010 (T-8th).
◆ Was the sixth Hawaiian-born All-Star in MLB history and the first ever from the island of Kauai.
◆ Became first Padres reliever since Hall-of-Famer Trevor Hoffman in 1998 to lead Majors in saves and set the
franchise’s single-season records (min. 60.0 IP) for ERA and strikeouts per 9.0 innings (career-high 14.98).
◆ Earned first career National League Reliever of the Month Award (April) and was a finalist for N.L. Reliever of the
Year alongside San Francisco’s Will Smith and eventual winner Milwaukee’s Josh Hader.
◆ Named Baseball Digest’s MLB “Reliever of the Year.”
◆ Finished with an 0-5 record, becoming the second pitcher in MLB history (min. 60.0 IP) to go winless in a season in
which he posted a sub-1.20 ERA (also Atlanta’s John Smoltz in 2003: 0-2, 1.12).
2018
◆ Went 5-3 with 12 saves, a 2.14 ERA (63.0 IP - 15 ER), and 90 strikeouts (12.9 SO/9) over a career-high 65 appearances
in his first full season with Padres.
◆ Ranked among qualified N.L. relievers in strikeouts (3rd), ERA (5th), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (6th), opponent OPS
(7th, .527), and opponent average (8th, .181).
◆ Saw stints on injured list from April 9-19 (right ankle tendonitis), paternity list from July 3-5, and bereavement list YATES
from Aug. 31 - Sept. 2.
2017
◆ Combined to post a 4-5 record, with one save, a 3.97 ERA (56.2 IP - 25 ER), and 88 strikeouts (14.0 SO/9) across 62
relief outings with Angels and Padres.
◆ Opened the season with Triple-A Salt Lake and pitched to a 2.57 ERA (7.0 IP - 2 ER) with one save in six games,
before being recalled by Angels on April 22 and making one relief appearance (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO).
◆ Claimed off waivers by San Diego on April 26 and spent the remainder of campaign with the Padres, totaling 61
appearances.
◆ Posted a 0.63 ERA (14.1 IP - 1 ER) with 21 strikeouts across 17 games from June 24 - Aug. 1.
◆ Was on Paternity Leave list from July 14-16.
2016
◆ With Yankees, set then-career-highs in appearances (41), wins (2), innings pitched (41.1) and strikeouts (50).
◆ Retired 28 of 41 first batters faced (68.3%).
◆ Earned wins in consecutive appearances May 6 vs. Boston and May 9 vs. Kansas City.
◆ Charged with only loss of season June 27 vs. Texas after entering game in ninth inning following a three-hour,
35-minute rain delay (1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 HBP).
◆ Tied career high with four strikeouts (third time) Aug. 29 at Kansas City, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings.
◆ Pitched in 14 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre from June 30 - Aug. 15 and recorded four saves while
pitching to a 1.62 ERA (16.2IP - 3ER).
2015
◆ Made first career Opening Day roster with Rays and made four April appearances before being optioned to
Triple-A Durham.
◆ Missed nearly two months of season on minor league disabled list with right pectoral strain...Returned to
Durham June 9 after making two rehab appearances with Single-A Charlotte.
◆ Earned first Major League win Sept. 20 vs. Baltimore after recording final two outs in top of ninth inning of Rays
walk-off victory.
2014
◆ After opening season with Triple-A Durham, made Major League debut with Rays June 7 vs. Seattle and worked
1.1 scoreless innings.
◆ Tied for ninth among A.L. rookies in games pitched, despite not joining Tampa Bay until club’s 63rd game...His
10.50 strikeouts per nine innings rate ranked tied for second among A.L. rookies (min. 25 G).
◆ Posted 2.16 ERA (25 IP - 6 ER) across first 24 appearances with Rays, but had a 7.36 ERA (11 IP - 9 ER) in final 13 games.
◆ Earned first Major League save July 20 at Minnesota.
POSTSEASON SUMMARY
◆ Made MLB Postseason debut in 2023 with Braves, appearing in relief in Game 2 of the N.L. Wild Card Series vs.
Philadelphia.
WILD CARD TOTALS
Year Club, Opp. W-L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO
2023— ATl, PHI 0-0 0.00 1 0 0 0 0 1.0 1 1 0 1 2

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