Kirby Yates makes first career start, then retires after 12 MLB seasons

DETROIT (AP) — Two-time All-Star reliever Kirby Yates says he is retiring after making his first start Saturday in a 12-year big league career.

The 39-year-old Yates, who went undrafted out of junior college, shook hands with teammates and plate umpire Laz Diaz while leaving the field after pitching 1 2/3 innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He started opposite Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander, who was also making his last appearance before retiring.

It was Yates' 518th appearance since debuting with Tampa Bay in June 2014, and he confirmed after the game that it was his last.

“This is it,” he said. “Just didn’t really want to say anything publicly before, until the end. 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.”

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.

Yates led the majors with 41 saves for San Diego in 2019. He finishes 32-29 with 101 career saves, including three this season for the Los Angeles Angels.

The right-hander pitched for the Rays, Yankees, Angels, Padres, Braves, Rangers, Dodgers and Pirates. He was an All-Star in 2019 with San Diego and 2024 with Texas. Yates was left off the Dodgers' postseason roster last season but did receive a ring as part of the World Series championship celebration.

Yates was born in Hawaii and went to high school there. He was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 26th round of the 2005 amateur draft out of high school, but did not sign. Four years later, he signed with Tampa Bay after going undrafted out of Yavapai College in Arizona.

Despite compiling a 3.19 ERA in 46 outings this season, Yates says he knows it's time to step away.

“I don’t have anything left, let’s put it that way,” he said. “I’ve been running on fumes here for a while.”

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