Padres Who Will Make the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby
By Ben Fadden
All-Star Game
Kirby Yates (Closer)
Kirby Yates was struggling with his slider a few years back in the Bronx, but since he arrived in San Diego, Darren Balsley must have found something because he is turning into the best reliever in baseball.
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I see him as this season’s Edwin Diaz. Diaz seemed to be locking down saves for the Mariners in virtually every game, as they were winning by one run margins nightly.
San Diego seems to be doing the same thing. Yates has MLB-leading 26 saves, and he has yet to blow a save (26-26 in save opportunities).
He seems to have dropped the slider (has only thrown a handful of them in 2019) and picked up arguably the most devastating pitch this season in his splitter.
His splitter complements his fastball well because he has the ability to throw his fastball inside to hitters (especially lefties) and then strikes them out with his splitter down and away.
He is no doubt going to his first Mid-Summer classic, as Kenley Jansen (Dodgers), Will Smith (Giants), and maybe Josh Hader would make it for the Nationals League because there will be mostly starters pitching one inning apiece until the 8th or 9th inning when the relievers will pitch.
The San Diego Padres usually have relievers representing them in the game, as Brad Hand represented the Friars in 2017 and 2018 before he and Adam Cimber were shipped to Cleveland for Francisco Mejia.
Fernando Rodney was going to be the third representative for the Padres in 2016 when they hosted the ASG, but he was traded to Miami in late June.
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San Diego Padres fans love it when people bring that trade up because Rodney stunk the rest of the season and San Diego got back their current ace Chris Paddack.