Atlanta Braves could have former All-Star closer for bullpen reinforcement

For the first time since the 2020 season, Kirby Yates could take the mound in a Major League Baseball game later this month. That appearance could be a boost for the defending World Champion Atlanta Braves.

Yates signed to a two-year deal just before the MLB lockout went into place during the offseason. He missed the entire 2021 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. At the time of his signing, it was estimated that Yates might be ready to join the Braves midway through this season.

According to David O’Brien, who covers the Braves for The Athletic, Yates put in another good performance at Triple-A on Sunday.

Then with the San Diego Padres, Yates earned an All-Star Game appearance in 2019 and finished ninth in the National League Cy Young Award race when he logged an MLB-best 41 saves and posted a 1.19 ERA/1.30 FIP/0.890 WHIP in 60 games covering 60.2 innings.

Yates appeared in just six games in 2020 with the Padres before suffering the injury that led to Tommy John surgery.

Braves: Kirby Yates could be huge boost to bullpen

The return of Yates would be a boost for the Atlanta bullpen, a group which has showed well overall this season, posting a collective 1.3 bWAR, the fourth-highest total in MLB. The Braves also acquired Los Angeles Angels closer Raisel Iglesias before the MLB trade deadline expired, giving another lift to the back end of the bullpen as the team awaits the arrival of Yates.

With Kenley Jansen entrenched as the closer, Iglesias and Yates, both right-handers, could combine as strong setup men in the late innings, or could revert to a closer role when Jansen might not be available.

Despite losing four of five to the New York Mets in a key recent NL East battle, the Atlanta Braves are preparing for a big addition to their bullpen as they ready for the roster for what the franchise hopes will be another deep postseason run.