“How Kirby Yates Throws the Ball That Made His Performance Screen on July 21st Controversy Day

When the lights shine the brightest, experience counts. And on July 22, 2025, Kirby Yates proved exactly why the Los Angeles Dodgers trust him with the ball in their tensest moments. At 38, many pitchers are already well into retirement. But for Yates, the fire hasn’t gone out—it’s only gotten more focused.

That Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins wasn’t just another regular-season game. It was a reminder that the oldest guy in the bullpen can still shut the door with ice in his veins.

The Long Road Back: Kirby Yates’ 2025 Journey

Before diving into the ninth inning drama, it’s essential to appreciate the road Kirby Yates traveled to get to that mound in July.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery and dealing with multiple injuries over the years, many questioned whether he’d pitch again at the Major League level. He missed significant time in 2023 and 2024, with his last consistent season being with the Atlanta Braves in 2022. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s not just pitching again—he’s contributing to a playoff-contending team.

Signing a deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, Yates entered Spring Training as a bullpen depth piece. But thanks to a string of injuries to key relievers, including Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott, his role quickly evolved from veteran mentor to active closer when games hang in the balance.

Dodgers vs. Twins: High-Stakes Baseball at Chavez Ravine

The Dodgers had a 5–2 lead going into the top of the 9th, thanks largely to Will Smith’s two home runs that electrified the home crowd. But when Tanner Scott—the team’s primary closer—suffered an injury warming up, the call went out to the bullpen.

All eyes turned to Kirby Yates.

At that moment, you could feel a shift in the energy. This wasn’t just any relief appearance. This was the kind of opportunity that could make or break a veteran’s comeback narrative.

Enter the Ninth: Veteran Grit Meets Chaos

With runners on base and the crowd growing anxious, Yates took the mound like a man who’s done it all before.

He quickly issued a walk that loaded the bases—a heart-stopper, no doubt. But then came a veteran masterclass. Instead of panicking, he composed himself, focused, and faced Carlos Correa, the Twins’ clutch hitter.

| KIRBY YATES: “I knew what I had to do. Just throw my game, keep it tight, and trust the defense.”

The next pitch: a well-located fastball inside that jammed Correa, resulting in a harmless fly ball to center field. Game over. Crowd erupts. Save secured.

It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t a strikeout. But it was effective. And most importantly, it was textbook Kirby Yates—cool under pressure.

What This Outing Means for the Dodgers’ Bullpen

The Dodgers have had a rollercoaster season with their pitching staff. Injuries and inconsistencies have plagued their bullpen depth. But with Yates proving himself again, the team might just have found the stopgap they desperately needed.

| DAVE ROBERTS (Dodgers manager): “Kirby’s been huge for us. He’s been through it all. That’s the kind of guy you want with the ball when it gets tight.”

A good bullpen doesn’t just need firepower—it needs poise. And if there’s one thing Kirby Yates brings in abundance, it’s calm in the eye of a storm.

The Stat Line That Doesn’t Tell the Full Story

Statistically, it may not look like much. One walk, one out. That’s it. But anyone watching that inning understood how pivotal that performance was. A bases-loaded jam against the heart of the Twins’ lineup isn’t a walk in the park—especially for someone who wasn’t even supposed to pitch that night.

| KIRBY YATES: “It’s about staying ready. Doesn’t matter if it’s the 6th or the 9th—when they need me, I’ll be there.”

This save marked his third of the season and came at a time when the Dodgers bullpen was reeling. It may very well be the turning point that brings more clarity to the closing role down the stretch.

Rewriting the Narrative at Age 38

In a sport obsessed with youth, Kirby Yates is writing a different kind of story. One not of decline, but of resilience. Not of fading talent, but of a second wind.

He’s no longer the All-Star closer from his San Diego Padres days. But he doesn’t need to be. His role is different now—less about overpowering hitters and more about reading situations, controlling pace, and delivering when it matters most.

Even his pitches reflect that change. He’s mixing in more sliders, relying less on velocity and more on command. And when he lands those edge pitches? He’s as dangerous as ever.

The Fans Still Believe

Scrolling through Dodgers Twitter or post-game Reddit threads, you’ll find dozens of fans praising Yates for his grit. Many even see him as a stabilizing presence for a young bullpen full of hard-throwers but lacking experience.

| FAN COMMENT (via X): “Yates isn’t just a feel-good story—he’s the arm we didn’t know we needed.”

It’s true. While names like Buehler, Kopech, and Treinen grab headlines, it’s the quiet, surgical work of Kirby Yates that often seals the win.

What Comes Next?

The big question now is sustainability. Can Yates hold up over the second half of the season? Will his arm stay fresh? Can he stay healthy?

The Dodgers don’t need him to pitch every night—they just need him in those crucial moments. And based on what we saw on July 22, he’s more than capable of answering that call.

He may not be the long-term solution for the closer role, but in a league where a single pitch can change the trajectory of a season, Kirby Yates offers something rare: dependability.

| KIRBY YATES: “I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone anymore. I’m just trying to win games.”

And that’s exactly what he’s doing.

With October baseball looming and the Dodgers aiming for yet another deep playoff run, having a guy like Kirby Yates in the bullpen could be the difference between heartbreak and glory.

He’s not the flashiest name. But in the most important moments, he might just be the most valuable.

At 38, Kirby Yates isn’t chasing fame anymore—he’s chasing outs. And on July 22, in a game that could’ve unraveled quickly, he showed the league he’s still got it.

Whether or not he closes more games down the line, that night in Dodger Stadium will stand as a defining chapter in his 2025 comeback.

A veteran’s moment. A team’s sigh of relief. And a crowd’s eruption for a man who earned every bit of it.

Sometimes, one out is all it takes to make believers out of everyone.

A comeback story? Maybe. But more importantly—a clutch one.

He didn’t save the season. But he just might’ve saved the night.