Yates an All-Star: 'I had to earn everything'

SAN DIEGO -- Two seasons ago, Kirby Yates was a middling reliever, freshly claimed off waivers, trying to find a home in San Diego's bullpen. Now, he's an All-Star.

• 2019 All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard: Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX

After a brilliant first half, the veteran right-hander was named as the Padres' lone representative to the Midsummer Classic in Cleveland on July 9. Yates leads the Majors with 27 30 saves, he owns a 1.15 ERA and he's striking out hitters at a 41 percent clip.

Yates reinvented himself with San Diego, developing a split-finger fastball that qualifies as one of the nastiest pitches in the sport. He's posted a 2.53 ERA in parts of three seasons with the Padres, to go along with the highest strikeout rate in franchise history.

“I had to earn everything I’ve gotten,” Yates said. “I had to earn my way to the big leagues. I had to earn my way to stay here. I had to earn every role. This is something I feel proud of because I earned it. Nobody’s ever going to take this away from me.”

After Sunday’s announcement, there was plenty of consternation about the snubs in San Diego’s clubhouse. Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Hunter Renfroe entered the day on the bubble, but all three missed out.

That didn’t temper the prevailing excitement for Yates. The 32-year-old right-hander, one of the team’s most respected veterans, was informed of his selection in a vibrant pregame clubhouse meeting.

“It’s been unbelievable watching what he’s been doing this year,” Machado said. “It’s well deserved.”

“He’s been sensational,” said Padres manager Andy Green. “He’s been released a couple times. Some people were thinking his career was almost over, and he turns into one of the best, if not the best reliever in the game. We’re thrilled for him.”

Ten years ago, Yates went undrafted, then he bounced around the Minors for five seasons before his 2014 callup. When Yates was released by the Angels in April 2017, his ERA sat at 5.38 and his career seemed to be on the brink.

"He made a plan to get better, and he got better," said Craig Stammen, Yates' throwing partner and setup man. "Hard work. It's a reward that honors what he put in to reach that point.

"He was at a place in his career where he was probably just an average reliever, bouncing from team to team. A lot of guys are satisfied with just being in the big leagues. He wasn't."

Coming off a strong finish to the 2017 campaign, Yates set a preseason goal to make the All-Star team last year. He fell just short, as close friend and former teammate Brad Hand was the Padres’ lone representative.

“I’m tired of not being good,” Yates recalled feeling two years ago. “I want to make an All-Star team for myself. I got close [in 2018], but I was totally fine with the outcome. This year it just kind of happened. I’m really grateful for it, and it’s not something I’ll ever take for granted.”

Yates took over the closer role when Hand was traded to Cleveland two days after the All-Star Game last season. Now, the two will reunite in Hand’s new home ballpark. They share similar stories, as Padres waiver claims who developed a new pitch with San Diego and used it to great success.

Now, Yates is a closer on the All-Star team -- like Hand was the past two seasons. But in the eyes of Padres catcher Austin Hedges, Yates should be the closer for the National League on Tuesday at Progressive Field.

"There's no question he should [pitch the ninth],” Hedges said. “He's the best reliever in baseball. Check the numbers. Look at what he does. You want the game over, that guy's going to be more prepared than anyone, and he's going to shut you down. I'd take him over anybody."

The 2019 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard will be played on Tuesday at Progressive Field in Cleveland. It will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.