Kirby Yates Named NL Reliever of the Month

Padres’ Kirby Yates was honored by Major League Baseball on Thursday as the National League Reliever of the Month presented by The Hartford for March and April.

Yates has saved a career-high 14 of the Padres’ 17 victories in March and April, giving him the MLB lead and also the most in MLB history by any reliever before May 1. The 32-year-old right-hander allowed just one run — a RBI double in the ninth inning of a 4-1 victory — for a 0.56 ERA in his first 16 appearances. He’s struck out 25 batters against five walks.