Two-time All-Star reliever Kirby Yates announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on Saturday after a 12-year career, making his first career start in a bullpen game for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Detroit Tigers in a contest that also marked Justin Verlander’s final appearance.
The 39-year-old right-hander walked off the field at the end of the afternoon shaking hands with teammates and plate umpire Laz Diaz after pitching 1 2/3 innings. The outing marked his 518th career appearance since his debut in June 2014, and he confirmed afterward that his playing days are over. This is it,
Yates told reporters as the afternoon wrapped up in Detroit.
Bullpen Opener and Final Farewell in Detroit
In a matchup that carried extra weight across both dugouts, the Pirates deployed a bullpen game following a 4-3 walk-off loss to the Tigers, handing Yates the first start of his big league career under manager Don Kelly. Yates recorded five outs, including a strikeout of Dillon Dingler, before giving way to reliever Yohan Ramírez. On the opposite side, Detroit starter Justin Verlander was making his own final career appearance before retirement, making it just the third time in baseball history that two starting pitchers both made their final regular-season appearance in the same game after at least 12 seasons in the majors.
According to data highlighted by MLB.com, the only other instances happened when Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson and Mordecai Brown squared off in 1916, and when Paul Derringer and Vern Kennedy met in 1945.
“This was the third time both starting pitchers made their final regular-season appearance in the same game after at least 12 seasons. Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson and Mordecai Brown did it in 1916, and Paul Derringer and Vern Kennedy did it in 1945, according to MLB.com.”
Yahoo Sports reporting
It was great.
It was an awesome day.
Really cool thing to kind of be a part of, especially what’s going on on the other side.
Seeing emotions on both sides was something you don’t forget.
It was a good day.
Running on Fumes After 12 Big League Seasons
Despite logging a solid 3.19 ERA across 46 outings this season, Yates acknowledged that his body had reached its limit. I don’t have anything left, let’s put it that way,
he explained in his postgame comments. I’ve been running on fumes here for a while.
“I don’t have anything left. Let’s put it that way. I’ve been running on fumes for a while. I think it’s just time. It’s felt like it’s been time for a little while now. I think I’ve given this game everything I have, and in return, it’s given me more than I can ever thank it for or imagine.”
Kirby Yates, via MLB Trade Rumors
The right-hander leaves the game with 101 career saves and a 32-29 record over a journeyman career that spanned the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Baseball Reference data shows Yates earned $48.5MM in total salary while accumulating 7.0 fWAR and 8.9 bWAR across parts of 12 seasons.
From Undrafted Reliever to Dominant Closer
Yates’ path to the majors was far from conventional. Born in Hawaii, he was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 26th round of the 2005 amateur draft out of high school but did not sign. After playing at Yavapai College in Arizona, he went undrafted before signing with Tampa Bay as a free agent in 2009. He finally reached the majors as a 27-year-old rookie in 2014.
After early struggles with the Rays and Yankees, Yates found his footing after moving to the Padres in 2017, where he began throwing a mid-80s splitter that became his signature pitch. His peak arrived during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. During that two-year window, he posted a 38.7% strikeout rate and a 1.67 ERA, ranking third among qualified relievers in K-BB rate.
His standout 2019 season saw him lead the majors with 41 saves for San Diego, earn his first All-Star nod, and pick up Cy Young votes. FanGraphs valued him at 5.2 wins above replacement over that two-year stretch, the highest mark among all qualified relievers.
Overcoming Injuries to Earn a World Series Ring
Injuries frequently threatened to derail his later years. Bone chips in his throwing elbow limited him to six appearances during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. After signing with the Toronto Blue Jays for 2021, he tore his elbow ligament in Spring Training and underwent his second Tommy John surgery, having previously undergone the procedure in college. The injury wiped out his entire 2021 season and most of 2022.
He returned to a big league mound in August 2022 with Atlanta and bounced back fully by 2024, earning his second All-Star selection as the closer for the Texas Rangers by holding opponents to a 1.17 ERA and converting 33 saves in 34 chances. Though he struggled with the Dodgers in 2025 and pitched briefly for the Angels earlier this year, the Pirates acquired him at the trade deadline, where he contributed 15 innings of 1.80 ERA ball before taking the mound for his final career appearance in Detroit.
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