[REVISION HISTORY]

Kirby Yates and Justin Verlander retire from MLB

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2026-09-28 05:33 UTC → 2026-09-28 13:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Veteran MLB reliever Kirby Yates has retired from Major League Baseball following a 12-season career. Yates, who had been considering retirement due to recurring injuries and a desire to spend more time with his family, officially stepped away after making his first career Major League start on September 25, 2026, against the Detroit Tigers. During that game, Yates shared the mound with Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, a rare occurrence where two starting pitchers made their final regular-season appearances in the same game after at least 12 seasons. Yates, a two-time All-Star, concluded his career with 518 appearances and 101 saves across eight teams. Following his final appearance as an opener for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 39-year-old Yates stated, “I’ve been running on fumes for a while. I think it’s just time.” Following that appearance, Justin Verlander officially retired after a 21-season career. In an emotional farewell at Comerica Park, Verlander was joined on the mound by his daughter, Genevieve, as he completed his final start against the Pittsburgh Pirates. ~~Verlander~~ Verlander, a three-time Cy Young winner, finished his career with 3,560 strikeouts, ranking eighth all-time. In related season news, the Pittsburgh Pirates secured their first winning season since 2018, finishing with an 82-80 record after defeating the Tigers 4-2 in the season finale. Konnor Griffin contributed to the Pirates' 11-win improvement over the previous season with a leadoff home run and an RBI single. The Tigers concluded their year with a 76-86 record.

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