Kirby Yates is back in the Pirates bullpen. The right-hander was activated from the injured list on September 22, 2026, returning to Pittsburgh's active roster with the regular season winding down. For a bullpen that leans heavily on its relief corps to bridge games, getting Yates back is a meaningful development in the final stretch of the 2026 campaign.
What Yates Brings Back to the Pittsburgh Bullpen
Yates is no stranger to high-leverage situations. In 2025, he appeared in 50 games out of the bullpen, logging 41.1 innings while posting a strikeout rate of 11.32 per nine innings — a strong indicator of his ability to miss bats. He recorded three saves against five save opportunities that year and added 15 holds, making him a versatile piece in multi-inning and late-game roles. His 2024 season was even more active, with 61 appearances covering 61.2 innings.
His 2025 ERA of 5.23 and WHIP of 1.33 show he wasn't untouchable, but a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.06 demonstrates he still commands the zone well enough to be useful.
What We Know
- Yates was activated from the injured list on September 22, 2026.
- He is currently on the active roster and available for manager use.
- His return adds an experienced arm with 111 combined appearances across 2024 and 2025.
- No timeline or nature of the injury has been confirmed in available information.
With September rosters offering expanded options, Yates slots back in as an available arm for Pittsburgh as the team plays out the final days of the regular season.
