Charlie Montoyo didn’t know that something was up, but he knew something was off. The Jays figured out the back of the bullpen as they went, using a combination of Anthony Bass, Rafael Dolis and Jordan Romano to close games until Romano got hurt. Yates’ injury puts the Jays in the exact same situation as last year, when closer Ken Giles went down with an elbow injury during the first series of the season. The first-pitch fastball he threw to Moniak in that at-bat was 91.1 m.p.h. Yates will “most likely” require Tommy John Surgery, which means he’s probably done for the 2021 season. Padres closer Kirby Yates takes this strange, crucial season as it comes Kevin Acee 7/9/2020 Florida Gov. "His symptoms and all of his baseball movements and patterns are incredibly encouraging," he said. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday. A sluggish spring changes nothing, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Should the San Diego Padres bring former closer Kirby Yates, back in 2021? Yates was touted as a potential closer after signing a one-year, $5.5-million US contract with the Blue Jays this off-season. Constantly called upon in high-leverage situations, Romano allowed just 13 baserunners in 14 2/3 innings, while striking out 21. With Romano on the shelf, Bass and Dolis notched four saves each in September. The team added that information about Yates’ injury was still being gathered, but that he is expected to miss “multiple weeks.”. Blue Jays holding their own despite difficult start, Blue Jays will be just fine despite slow start on offence, Kirby Yates Kirby Yates. The Blue Jays were scheduled to play the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night at BayCare Ballpark. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. "It's most likely going to be a Tommy John revision," Atkins said on a video call with reporters. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Those were the three slowest fastballs he’d thrown all spring and, in fact, slower than any he’d thrown last season. (K.C. According to The Athletic, several clubs believe the Padres could make closer Kirby Yates available at the deadline, and by sheer production, there may be no better reliever on the market. Whether it’s Romano or a closer-by-committee, Ross Stripling thinks his team is in good shape. , Blue Jays Media. Atkins also said that pitchers Nate Pearson (groin) and Thomas Hatch (elbow/forearm) were both progressing well. Blue Jays reliever Kirby Yates, who was slated to be the team's closer this season, is expected to have season-ending surgery on his right elbow. (Lindsey Wasson / Getty Images) By Bryce Miller Columnist "But because of the MRI — we'll be careful not to overtreat the MRI — but because of the MRI you won't see him playing for the next few days.". The Toronto Blue Jays were dealt a significant injury blow Tuesday with news that reliever Kirby Yates was expected to miss the entire season due to a right elbow injury. Padres are ready to move past Kirby Yates in the ninth inning As far as the closer’s role goes in San Diego, the Friars will look to left-hander Drew Pomeranz and Emilio Pagan to close … In addition, starter Robbie Ray was expected to miss one spring training start after slipping and falling on some stairs last week. By Mike Wilner Baseball Columnist. Yates was brought in this past offseason on a one … He pitched just 4 innings for the Padres in 2020 before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be registered Torstar account holder. But seventh, eighth, ninth, whatever they need, I’ll be ready.”. The 27-year-old Markham, Ont. An MRI revealed a Grade 2 sprain to the oblique, Atkins said. Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told reporters on Tuesday that Yates had undergone an MRI after originally being diagnosed with a flexor-pronator strain, according to … Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, The Blue Jays know what Bo Bichette is all about. He made six appearances with the Padres last year before undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his pitching elbow. “I trust them all,” Stripling said, without hesitation. “I like it when they kind of spring it on me. The Blue Jays’ closer depth is a relief with Kirby Yates lost. Yates, 33, emerged as a premier reliever when he joined the San Diego Padres as a waiver claim during the 2017 season. Team: Toronto Blue Jays (majors, 60-day IL) Born: March 25, 1987 in Lihue, HI us Draft: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 26th round of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft from Kauai HS (Lihue, HI).. High School: Kauai HS (Lihue, HI) School: Yavapai College (Prescott, AZ) Yates was touted as a potential closer after signing a one-year, US$5.5-million contract with the … Yates was expected to be Toronto's closer after signing a $5.5 million, one-year deal in the offseason. The Blue Jays pitching staff has suffered another injury. Jeff Passan predicts the 2021 MLB season from every possible angle With Nate Pearson and Thomas Hatch already dealing with issues, word came out on Monday that Kirby Yates, Toronto’s expected closer, had suffered a flexor-pronator (in the forearm, close to the elbow) strain in … Kirby Yates is scheduled to make his second appearance of the spring on Saturday, looking to round into shape in his quest to begin the season as the Blue Jays' closer. Atkins expects to provide another update on Springer later in the week. native broke through as a rookie last season, posting a 1.23 ERA in 15 relief outings before suffering a season-ending finger injury in late August. I like the anticipation of not really knowing. But … At the trade deadline, the Padres traded Hand, thus handing over the closer role to Yates. Outfielder George Springer, meanwhile, is dealing with some mild tightness around the oblique area, Atkins said, but could still be available for opening day on April 1. Now they’ll likely be part of a committee, with Dolis and Romano, that will work the late innings, with lefty Ryan Borucki sprinkled in as the matchups dictate. Atkins said that Yates recently underwent an MRI exam and had received a second opinion. Padres closer Kirby Yates (right) and catcher Austin Hedges shake hands after a 2018 game at Seattle. Credit: USA Today Sports. Yates was an all-star in 2019 with San Diego, registering 41 saves and posting a 1.19 earned-run average. To order copies of Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) To order "We're extremely optimistic about his strength, about his range of motion, especially his rotational movement (and feel) that he could be playing baseball very soon. The MLB saves leader of 2019 has bone chips in his throwing elbow and will likely require season-ending surgery. “We’re lucky to have some really awesome back-end arms,” said Stripling. He looked very good in his first spring outing, flashing his old 93- to 94-miles-per-hour fastball as part of a nine-pitch inning in which he missed the strike zone only once. Blue Jays: Toronto’s new closer Kirby Yates already set to miss multiple weeks due to injury. fastball. “Between Romano and Dolis, Chatwood, Borucki, Phelps. read. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Latest on Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Kirby Yates including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN “Honestly, because I know him pretty well, he actually wasn’t as sharp as he’s been in the past,” said the Blue Jays’ manager on Saturday, after Kirby Yates had thrown a perfect, 16-pitch bottom of the sixth, with two strikeouts, in a win over the Phillies in Clearwater. “Phelps, Chatwood are guys I’ve not played with, just seen from afar. Well, Yates hasn’t had to find out, converting on 35 of his 36 save opportunities since becoming the Padres’ closer, yielding just 16 hits while striking out 48 batters in 28 innings this season. It worked out last year. He seems to be the heir apparent, but he’s in no rush to claim the ninth inning. On Monday, the team said Yates would miss several weeks because of a strained muscle in his forearm. The worst news of all, though, is that Kirby Yates’ elbow injury, which we learned about yesterday, is actually worse than originally anticipated. Editor's Picks. TORONTO -- The Blue Jays have signed right-hander Kirby Yates to a one-year, $5.5 million contract, the club announced Wednesday. Yates signed a one-year deal for just $5.5 million (U.S.) with the Jays in December, trying to rebuild his value after being limited to only 4 2/3 innings of work in 2020 due to bone chips in his pitching elbow that were surgically removed in August. But that splitter was preceded by two fastballs, both coming in at just 90.3 m.p.h. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. But Jordan Romano "is a closer in the making" who will be used in high-leverage spots 6-9 — Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) March 19, 2021 San Diego’s former MLB All-Star closer Kirby Yates may have thrown his final pitch as a member of the Padres.. Yates is due to become a free agent when the offseason officially starts later this week. The news of the week is Padres closer Kirby Yates is done for the season. Kirby Yates is next scheduled to appear in games Saturday and Tuesday and the closer's role "is his job to lose," said Pete Walker. Giles notched just one save before getting hurt, and the Jays had five other relievers pick up a save after he went down. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. "It's still very fresh with the information but that would be the most likely outcome.". The team has held off naming one of its big offseason acquisitions as the closer, but with Yates looking healthy in his first spring action, an official … Kirby Yates is a solid signing I guess, but can we at least get some real dependable pieces on this roster? The Blue Jays announced Monday that Yates … Position: Pitcher Bats: Left • Throws: Right 5-10, 205lb (178cm, 92kg) . This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2021. On Saturday, his second spring sortie, Yates struck out the first batter he faced, Roman Quinn, on a 93-m.p.h. Yates was touted as a potential closer after signing a one-year, US$5.5-million contract with the Blue Jays this off-season. If one hurler were to emerge from that committee and lay claim to the closer role in Yates’ absence, the most intriguing would be Romano. San Diego Padres All-Star closer Kirby Yates underwent surgery Wednesday to remove bone chips from his right (pitching) elbow and said today, “everything is … “If I’ve got a win on the line and I see any of those guys running out of the bullpen in the ninth, I’m happy.”. Matheson added that Jordan Romano, 27, could be given the opportunity to replace Yates in the closer position. It could be anybody any day, sort of like we did last year.”. Padres closer Kirby Yates at the team’s Summer Camp in July. Mon., March 22, 2021 timer 4 min. Bass is gone, having departed for Miami as a free agent, but the Jays brought in Tyler Chatwood and David Phelps to be high-leverage arms in the back of the bullpen to replace him and, ostensibly, set up Yates. It turns out there was probably a very good reason behind that lack of sharpness, as the Jays announced Monday afternoon that their presumptive closer had suffered a strain of the flexor pronator, which is a significant muscle/tendon structure in the elbow that sits just on top of the ulnar collateral, or Tommy John, ligament. "We knew it was very high risk with the potential of high reward," Atkins said of the signing. Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. And then the same for all the other guys between Romano, Borucki, Dolis. Atkins said that Yates recently underwent an MRI exam and had received a second opinion. General manager Ross Atkins said Yates, who was recently diagnosed with a flexor-pronator strain, will likely need surgery. “I don’t need a set inning,” said Romano, after striking out the side in order in Monday night’s 4-3 win over Detroit. The experience of losing Giles so early last season has informed the way Montoyo will use his bullpen this year, in the absence of Yates. Springer signed a six-year contract in the off-season worth a franchise record $150 million. rights reserved. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman added that All Yates brings plenty of closing experience and should fill the team's vacant closer role. Castillo linked the Dodgers to former Padres closer Kirby Yates. By Laura ArmstrongStaff Reporter Mon., March 22, 2021 timer 1 min. The deal also comes with $4.5 million in performance bonuses for appearances and awards, according to a report from Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. The ideal would have been to have a healthy Yates all season, but the Jays bullpen will still be in pretty good shape without him. Reliever Kirby Yates, who was expected to be Toronto’s closer in 2021, appears instead headed for Tommy John surgery. And he very well might see any of them in the ninth, according to his skipper. Kirby Yates reportedly set to sign with Blue Jays Kirby Yates pitches during a spring training practice on Feb. 19, 2020. Photo by Chris Stone Kirby Yatesgave an upbeat account of his recent elbow surgery this week, and explained the pain that led … He believes the Jays have an embarrassment of riches in the bullpen. The Blue Jays bullpen suffered its first major injury of the year, losing presumed closer Kirby Yates for at least a few weeks. He also struck the last batter he faced, Mickey Moniak, on a splitter. Kirby Yates on signing with Blue Jays, what his time with the Padres meant to him and more • Jan 22, 2021 The San Diego Union-Tribune Hear from former Padres closer Kirby Yates on signing with the Blue Jays and what his time in San Diego meant to him and his family. He ended the season with a career low 2.14 ERA in 65 appearances. The big righty did, though, agree that being the last guy out of the bullpen is a special thing. “I don’t see the need to have one closer,” said the manager, “because we have so many different guys who can do it. Lining him up after Dolis and Romano gives the Blue Jays’ bullpen a solid back-end to finish off games. Blue Jays closer Kirby Yates will be out multiple weeks with an injury. Now you see their stuff first-hand and you’re like, yeah, that guy can get outs in the ninth inning, no doubt. In 2018, Yates began the season as the setup man to closer Brad Hand. Kirby Yates, another former All-Star closer, would cost even less and the Dodgers have significant interest in him, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Republication or distribution of this content is “If they need me in the ninth, I’ll be ready for it,” said Romano, who has two big-league saves to his credit. Romano and Dolis, used almost exclusively in high-leverage, had only one blown save each in a combined 39 appearances, with Romano’s coming in the game in which he got injured. As for who he would prefer to see closing games out? It certainly worked last year. We’ve got really, really great talent back there in the bullpen.”. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto “It’s always cool to close out a game and get a win, so that would be pretty cool.”. According to his manager and pitching coach, Yates will open the season as Toronto’s ninth-inning arm as long as he's healthy and ready to go. 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