Kyle Yates

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #15 prospect in 2007
  Accustomed to pitching in obscurity in the same University of Texas bullpen as Huston Street and J. Brent Cox, Yates broke out by going 11-6, 3.22 as a starter in his first full pro season in 2005. While he struggled in his first crack at Double-A this season, he got back on track during a brief demotion to high Class A and regrouped when he returned to New Hampshire. Yates' plus secondary offerings are ahead of his fringy fastball, which sits at 87- 88 mph and sometimes creeps into the low 90s when he works in relief. He has tight spin on a hard curveball that can buckle the knees of lefties and righties alike. He trusts his changeup and the action he generates on the pitch makes it a key weapon against lefties. His stuff plays up out of the bullpen, where he moved in late July. Yates led the Arizona Fall League in strikeouts and could be a darkhorse candidate for the major league bullpen in 2007 if he polishes his command.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #15 prospect in 2006
  The Blue Jays gambled on Yates when he was a nondescript reliever pitching behind the likes of Huston Street and J. Brent Cox at Texas, and it's paying dividends. Yates emerged in 2005, his second pro season, making more progress than any pitcher in the organization save Casey Janssen. Yates's curve is a true 70 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale and is the best in the system. His 88-90 mph fastball is just fringe average, though he can hit 92 consistently out of the pen. After learning a changeup in instructional league in 2004, Yates was switched to a starting role at low Class A Lansing last year and took to it with aplomb. He took advantage of his starts and side sessions to refine his changeup, which he didn't use in relief. After Yates was promoted to high Class A, pitching coach Rick Langford implored him to mix his pitch sequences and not become too reliant on his curve when going for strikeouts. Yates also needs to be more attentive to how batters are reacting to him, something working with more experienced catchers might correct. He's a safe bet to begin 2006 in high Class A, where he'll continue to get innings as a starter. He may return to the bullpen in the future.