In a career full of productive seasons, which includes one All-Star appearance, Kauai’s Kirby Yates is enjoying perhaps his best start in his 10-year career.
Yates, who has taken over as closer for the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers, has yet to allow an earned run in his 12 innings of work, picking up five saves in the process.
All the latest sports news from Hawaii’s sports station
The most recent of Yates’ 14 strikeouts in 2024 was the 500th of his career, placing him in rare company as far as Hawaii pitchers are concerned.
“I really wasn’t really aware of it,” Yates said. “My wife told me that she was aware of it, and she knew it was coming up, but I hadn’t been paying any attention to it. I really haven’t delved into the significance of it. You play with a lot of guys and 500 strikeouts. I struck out 100 guys in one season (2019). But overall, I think how this started going on, being drafted and being able to sustain a job in the big leagues for a while now and get to that level, I think that’s the most satisfying feeling I can put together.”
The only other pitchers born in Hawaii to accumulate 500 strikeouts in Major League Baseball are Charlie Hough, Sid Fernandez, Ron Darling, Milt Wilcox, Scott Feldman, and Jerome Williams.