[ PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ]
Mets put Yates in
starting rotationThe Kauai High and Hawaii-Hilo
alumnus not only made the team,
he’s the fourth starter
The dream of every professional ballplayer is to make to the major leagues. That dream came true for Kauai's Tyler Yates yesterday.
Yates battled all spring to earn a spot on the New York Mets' 25-man, opening-day roster. For most of spring training he and five other pitchers were fighting for the fifth job in the Mets' starting rotation.
Before the afternoon workout yesterday, Yates was told by manager Art Howe and pitching coach Rick Peterson that he had performed well enough in camp to win the fourth spot in the rotation.
The Mets reduced the competition Wednesday by sending James Baldwin and Aaron Heilman to Norfolk, Va., their Class AAA team in the International League.
The fourth spot was thought to belong to right-hander Jae Weong Seo, but he has struggled this spring, especially with his command, and also may end up starting the season at Norfolk.
"They told me congratulations. They said 'We thought you worked the ball well. We're really proud of the way you threw the ball this spring and you made our club,' " Yates said.
"It is pretty amazing. All I did was go out and pitch. Like I have said many times, I just do my job and let management take care of the business decisions. It was a big relief because I thought they had called me in to tell me I was being sent down (to Norfolk)."
Yates, a 26-year-old right-hander, will pitch three innings in a spring training game tomorrow, then make his major league debut against the Montreal Expos at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Friday.
Although Yates says this is definitely a boost to his confidence, he realizes he has to produce on a regular basis at baseball's highest level.
"It still hasn't really hit me, but I have a big smile on my face from ear to ear," said Yates. "I also know it is time to go out and do my job and play ball. It's a new day tomorrow."
The promotion ended five weeks of question marks for the Mets and for Yates, who compiled a 0.64 earned run average in four games with the Mets. He also pitched in some minor league games.
Yates has been in the Mets organization since Dec. 14, 2001, when he was part of the deal that sent David Justice to the Oakland Athletics. Yates, a Kauai High graduate, was picked after his junior season at Hawaii-Hilo by Oakland in the 23rd round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft.
He underwent Tommy John surgery on June 19, 2002, but made a much quicker recovery than usual and was pitching again early last year. When he returned from surgery, the Mets switched him from the bullpen to a starting role. In stops at St. Lucie (Class A Florida State League), Binghamton, N.Y. (Class AA Eastern League), and Norfolk, Yates struck out 100 batters in 100 1/3 innings.
This will be Yates' second trip to Puerto Rico. In 1989, when his brother Spencer was a member of the Kauai All-Stars coached by his father, Gary, and participating in a Little League Mustang tournament, Yates made the trip along with his mother, Janna, and 2-year-old Kirby, now a pitcher for Kauai High.
Wayne joins Yates in show: Former Punahou pitcher Justin Wayne gave up his first run of the spring yesterday, but received the same news Yates did.
Wayne, a right-hander who has been with the big club in each of the past two years, survived Florida's final cut to become a member of the Marlins' bullpen.
Florida sent Michael Tejera and Blaine Neal to Triple-A Albuquerque and released Tanyon Sturtze, leaving left-handers Tommy Phelps and Matt Perisho and right-handers Nate Bump, Chad Fox and closer Armando Benitez along with Wayne in the bullpen.
Wayne has appeared in seven major league games in his career, going 2-5 with a 6.52 earned run average, but has never appeared in relief. He made two starts in Florida's world-championship season last year, but lost both. Marlins manager Jack McKeon expects a better effort this year.
"Nothing is guaranteed," McKeon told MLB.com. "Things could change."