DETROIT -- Kirby Yates took two steps backward off the mound, tipped his cap and kissed his glove as a final goodbye. The 39-year-old Yates came a long way from an undrafted JUCO pitcher. In this moment, Yates was exiting on his own terms with an ovation from the opposing crowd.
As Detroit and the rest of the baseball universe honored Justin Verlander in his final start, Yates had his own moment of appreciation. After 12 MLB seasons, Yates made his expected retirement official with a final outing Saturday in the Pirates 4-3 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park.
“It was good, but this was it …” Yates said. “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.”
After 517 career relief appearances, Yates pitched Pirates manager Don Kelly earlier in the week to make his first start somewhat as a joke. Pittsburgh had a bullpen game scheduled against Verlander and the Tigers and Kelly gave Yates the nod to be the opener.
Yates and Verlander created the first MLB regular-season in history in which both starting pitchers were age 39 or older and it was their final career appearance. It was also the third game ever where both starting pitchers made their final regular-season MLB appearance and played in at least 12 seasons, joining Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson and Mordecai Brown in 1916 and Paul Derringer and Vern Kennedy in 1945.
Verlander is a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer. At 43 years old, he’s a three-time AL Cy Young Award winner and the 2011 AL MVP after being the No. 2 overall pick in 2004. He finished his career as one of the best to ever take the mound.
Yates doesn’t quite have the same resume. Few do. But Yates has turned in a career to be plenty proud of. Yates debuted at 27 years old in 2014. He’s played 12 MLB seasons for eight different teams, earning two All-Star nods and an MLB-leading 41 saves in 2019. Overall, he amassed a record of 32-29 with a 3.35 ERA and 101 career saves.
“It was pretty hard to get to the big leagues. And once I got [here], I just remember how hard it was ... and [I realized] how hard it was to stay [here]. I stayed here for 12-13 years,” Yates said.
“I kind of joke around with everybody, tell them, 'I'm an overachiever,' and I think I overachieved in every possible way. So it's a bittersweet day. I'm sad it's over, but I'm really proud of what I accomplished and everything that I've done. I gave it everything I have, and I've got no regrets.”
On Friday night, Yates admitted a sense of nervousness, something he hasn’t felt in a long time. He knew the environment would have added emotion already with Verlander’s finale. And he knew this was it. As Yates walked to the outfield pregame on Saturday, he looked back into the stands to wave to his wife, son and daughter. Yates’ eight-year-old son has held a heavy presence with the team since his father was traded to the team at the deadline, playing ping-pong in the clubhouse and often playing catch in the outfield.
Yates expressed his gratitude a few weeks back to MLB.com as he worked back from the injured list to finish his career on a positive note. He made it even clearer that his children played a large role in a decision that was looming large.
“They're a huge part of everything,” Yates said. “… When I had surgery about five years ago, they didn't know what Daddy did. They didn't have a clue. They just knew that for Daddy, baseball was work, and they didn't really understand the concept of we went out and played the games. And I kind of tried to make a goal: That I need to play this game as long as I can so that they can at least see me play on the field and know that this is what Daddy did. Now, they understand baseball pretty well.”
To open the game, Yates allowed two singles before working a 5-4-3 double play to erase the threat. He came out for the second inning and induced a groundout before recording a strikeout of Dillon Dingler, the 672nd and final strikeout of his career.
Kelly trotted to the mound, and Yates gave a hug to each of the Pirates infielders before a final embrace with Kelly. After a final look at the mound, a place he’s made a living out of, Yates waved to his family in the stands and exited to an ovation from the crowd and both dugouts, even from Verlander on the other side.
Yates had pitched for the final time.
“I think I made peace with it last year. I didn't know if I was going to play this year after last year, and I think that has taken a lot of the emotion out of it,” Yates said. “I'm still sad, don't get me wrong, but I'm not upset by it by any means. I'm completely at peace with this.”