Dillon Tate

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Dillon Tate

|image = Dillon Tate.jpg

|caption = Tate with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019

|team = Toronto Blue Jays

|number = 9

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|5|1}}

|birth_place = Harbor City, California, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 29

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = Baltimore Orioles

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = April 20, 2025

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 7–14

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 4.15

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 173

|teams =

Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2022}}, {{mlby|2024}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2024}}–present)

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}

}}

Dillon Michael Tate (born May 1, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Baltimore Orioles. Tate played college baseball at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Texas Rangers selected him in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft and traded him to the New York Yankees during the 2016 season. He was traded to the Orioles close to the 2018 trade deadline and made his MLB debut with them in 2019.

Early life and education

Tate attended Claremont High School in Claremont, California, graduating in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.claremont-courier.com/articles/sports/t15965-tate|title=Dillon Tate on fast-track to MLB|first=Sarah|last=Torribio|work=Claremont Courier|date=June 25, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2016|archive-date=December 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207141058/https://www.claremont-courier.com/articles/sports/t15965-tate|url-status=dead}} He made the school's baseball team, but received little playing time as a freshman. He then began to train at the Major League Baseball (MLB) Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dillon-tate-finds-path-to-draft-in-urban-youth-aca/c-127980594|title=Tate finds path to Draft in Compton UYA|first=Austin|last=Laymance|work=MLB.com |date=June 1, 2015|access-date=August 2, 2016}} He was not selected in the MLB draft out of high school.

Tate enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he played college baseball for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.{{cite web|url=http://www.d1baseball.com/analysis/dillon-tates-work-ethic-garners-respect/|title=Dillon Tate's Work Ethic Garners Respect - D1Baseball.com|author=Shotgun Spratling|work=D1Baseball.com|access-date=June 13, 2015}} The Gauchos and the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles were the only two Division I programs to offer Tate a scholarship.{{cite news|last1=Grant|first1=Evan|title=Rangers first-round pick Dillon Tate has connections to Michael Young, Chi Chi Gonzalez|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangersheadlines/2015/06/08/rangers-first-round-pick-dillon-tate-has-connections-to-michael-young-chi-chi-gonzalez|access-date=March 20, 2017|work=Dallas Morning News|date=June 8, 2015|language=en}} As a freshman, he appeared in four games, pitching three innings, and had a 9.00 earned run average (ERA). That summer, he grew from {{convert|165|lbs}} to {{convert|200|lbs}} through weight training. As a sophomore, he served as the Gauchos' closer, finishing the season with a 1.45 ERA, 12 saves, and 46 strikeouts.{{cite web|url=http://presidiosports.com/2014/12/cbb-ucsbs-tate-named-preseason-all-american/|title=CBB: UCSB's Tate named Preseason All-American|work=Presidio Sports|date=December 19, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2015}} Tate was expected to enter his junior season in 2015 as the closer again, but was converted into a starting pitcher after an injury to one of the team's starters.{{cite web|url=http://presidiosports.com/2015/04/dillon-tate-added-to-golden-spike-award-watch-list/|title=Dillon Tate added to Golden Spike Award watch list|work=Presidio Sports|date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=June 13, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://presidiosports.com/2015/04/john-zant-gauchos-are-golden-on-the-mound/|title=John Zant: Gauchos are Golden on the Mound|work=Presidio Sports|date=April 30, 2015 |access-date=June 13, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.d1baseball.com/columns/golden-spikes-spotlight-dillon-tate/|title=Golden Spikes Spotlight: Dillon Tate|author=Kendall Rogers|work=D1Baseball.com|date=April 7, 2015 |access-date=June 13, 2015}} He started 14 games in his junior year, pitching to an 8–5 win–loss record with a 2.26 ERA and 111 strikeouts in {{frac|103|1|3}} innings pitched.

Career

=Texas Rangers=

Considered one of the top prospects for the 2015 MLB draft,{{cite web|url=https://insider.espn.com/blog/keith-law/insider/post?id=3728|title=UC-Santa Barabara's Dillon Tate surging up draft boards – MLB draft – Keith Law Blog – ESPN|work=ESPN.com|date=March 22, 2015 |access-date=June 13, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://insider.espn.com/blog/mlb-draft/insider/post?id=2153|title=Weekend MLB draft notes: Mike Matuella sits, Dillon Tate sparkles – MLB Draft Blog – ESPN|work=ESPN.com|date=February 23, 2015 |access-date=June 13, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.d1baseball.com/the-buzz/buzzworthy-ucsbs-tate-shows-top-pick-stuff/|title=Buzzworthy: UCSB's Tate Shows Top Pick Stuff - D1Baseball.com|author=Kendall Rogers|work=D1Baseball.com|date=April 3, 2015 |access-date=June 13, 2015}} the Texas Rangers selected Tate with the fourth overall selection.{{cite web|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article23541997.html|title=Rangers draft pitcher Dillon Tate with fourth overall pick|work=Star-Telegram|access-date=June 13, 2015}} He signed with the Rangers on June 12, earning a $4.2 million signing bonus.{{cite web|url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/06/texas-rangers-sign-top-pick-dillon-tate.html/ |title=Rangers get bargain, sign top pick Dillon Tate for $4.2 million |work=Dallas Morning News |access-date=June 13, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614102719/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/06/texas-rangers-sign-top-pick-dillon-tate.html/ |archive-date=June 14, 2015 }}

Tate made his professional debut for the Spokane Indians of the Low–A Northwest League{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dillon-tate-makes-professional-debut/c-133202102|title=Dillon Tate makes professional debut|website=MLB.com |access-date=November 28, 2016}} and was promoted to the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League in 2016. He spent time on the disabled list with a strained hamstring.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-183121748|title=No. 3 Texas Rangers prospect Dillon Tate back on track for Hickory Crawdads – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|access-date=November 28, 2016}} Tate pitched 65 innings for Hickory, with a 5.12 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and 27 walks. His fastball velocity, which previously ranged from {{convert|92|–|98|mph}},{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-prospect-dillon-tate-ready-for-2016-c162978708|title=Rangers prospect Dillon Tate ready for 2016|website=MLB.com |access-date=November 28, 2016}} decreased to {{convert|90|–|93|mph}} in his time with Hickory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2016/08/how_the_yankees_hope_to_fix_pitching_prospect_dill.html|first=Brendan|last=Kuty |publisher=NJ Advance Media|work=NJ.com |title=How Yankees will slowly fix pitching prospect Dillon Tate|date=August 2, 2016|access-date=August 2, 2016}}

=New York Yankees=

On August 1, 2016, the Rangers traded Tate and fellow prospects Erik Swanson and Nick Green to the New York Yankees in exchange for Carlos Beltrán.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-trade-for-carlos-beltran-from-yankees-c193016518|title=First-round pick Tate eyes first full pro season: Fourth overall selection in 2015 Draft building out pitching repertoire|first=T.R.|last=Sullivan|work=MLB.com|date=January 27, 2016|access-date=August 2, 2016}} The Yankees assigned Tate to the Single–A Charleston RiverDogs of the South Atlantic League to pitch as a reliever for the remainder of 2016, to work with pitching coach Justin Pope to fix various mechanical flaws that can lead to an increase in velocity. In {{fraction|17|1|3}} innings for Charleston, he posted a 3.12 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP. The Yankees assigned him to the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League after the regular season, and he was named to the Fall Stars Game.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2016/10/yankees_mets_represented_at_arizona_fall_league_al.html|title=Yankees, Mets represented at Arizona Fall League All-Star Game|date=October 31, 2016 |access-date=November 28, 2016}}

After missing the start of the 2017 season with a sore shoulder,{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/new-york-yankees-dillon-tate-notches-a-scoreless-debut-237683636 |title=Tate sparkles for Tampa in season debut |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=June 20, 2017 |access-date=July 8, 2019}} Tate made nine starts for the Tampa Yankees of the High–A Florida State League, pitching to a 2.62 ERA. The Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League in August,{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2017/08/10/the-project-yankees-received-in-beltran-trade-now-a-top-prospect/|title=The project Yankees received in Beltran trade now a top prospect|first=Joel|last=Sherman|work=New York Post|date=August 10, 2017|access-date=August 11, 2017}} where he finished the season, posting a 1–2 record with a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/dillon-tate-622253|title=Dillon Tate Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=February 1, 2018}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On July 24, 2018, the New York Yankees traded Tate, Cody Carroll, and Josh Rogers to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Zack Britton.{{cite web|last=Randhawa |first=Manny |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-acquire-zach-britton-from-orioles/c-287154688 |title=Yankees acquire Zach Britton from Orioles |work=MLB.com |date=July 24, 2018 |access-date=July 8, 2019}} On November 20, the Orioles added Tate to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-rule-5-draft-protect-dillon-tate-1121-story.html |title=Orioles add pitching prospect Dillon Tate to 40-man roster to protect him from Rule 5 draft |publisher=Baltimore Sun |access-date=July 8, 2019}} Tate split the 2018 season between the Double-A Trenton Thunder and the Double–A Bowie Baysox of the Eastern League, accumulating a 7–5 record with a 4.16 ERA in {{frac|123|1|3}} innings. Tate returned to Bowie to start the 2019 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/chesapeake/news/baysox-announce-2019-break-camp-roster-305798892|title=Baysox Announce 2019 Break Camp Roster|work=baysox.com|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=April 9, 2019}}

On July 26, 2019, the Orioles promoted Tate to the major leagues.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-dillon-tate-promoted-to-big-leagues/|title=Orioles' Dillon Tate: Promoted to big leagues|author=RotoWire Staff|work=CBS Sports|date=July 26, 2019|access-date=July 26, 2019}} He made his debut on July 29, allowing three runs over two innings pitched.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-orioles-lose-to-padres|title=Hess fans 7 but allows 4 HRs in return to Orioles|author=Shaun O'Neill|work=MLB.com|date=July 30, 2019|access-date=July 30, 2019}} He finished his rookie season with a 6.43 ERA across 16 appearances. Tate pitched in 12 games for Baltimore in 2020, posting a 3.24 ERA with 14 strikeouts.

In 2021, Tate appeared in 62 games for the Orioles, registering an 0-6 record and 4.39 ERA with 49 strikeouts in {{fraction|67|2|3}} innings of work. Tate enjoyed a career year in 2022, appearing in 67 games for Baltimore and posting a 4-4 record and 3.05 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 5 saves in {{fraction|73|2|3}} innings pitched.{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tatedi01.shtml | title=Dillon Tate Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More }}

On January 13, 2023, Tate agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Orioles, avoiding salary arbitration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/2023-mlb-arbitration-tracker.html|title=2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker|access-date=January 13, 2023|website=MLBTradeRumors}} On February 16, it was announced that Tate had suffered a flexor strain in late November and would miss the first month of the season as a result.{{Cite web|title=Orioles' Dillon Tate: To miss first month of season|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-dillon-tate-to-miss-first-month-of-season/|access-date=February 27, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

Tate made 29 appearances for Baltimore in 2024, recording a 4.59 ERA with 23 strikeouts across {{fraction|33|1|3}} innings pitched. Tate was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Forrest Wall on August 28, 2024.{{Cite web|title=Orioles Claim Forrest Wall, Designate Dillon Tate For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/orioles-claim-forrest-wall-designate-dillon-tate-for-assignment.html|access-date=August 28, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On September 1, 2024, Tate was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.{{Cite web |last=Deeds |first=Nick |date=2024-09-01 |title=Blue Jays Claim Dillon Tate |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/blue-jays-claim-dillon-tate.html |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} In 4 games for Toronto, he logged a 5.40 ERA with 4 strikeouts across {{fraction|3|1|3}} innings pitched. On November 22, the Blue Jays non–tendered Tate, making him a free agent.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays expected to non-tender RHP Dillon Tate|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-expected-to-non-tender-rhp-dillon-tate/|access-date=November 22, 2024|website=sportsnet.ca|language=en}}

On March 12, 2025, Tate re-signed with the Blue Jays on a one-year, $1.4 million contract.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays Re-Sign Dillon Tate|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/blue-jays-to-re-sign-dillon-tate.html|access-date=March 17, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to begin the season.{{Cite web|title=Toronto Blue Jays cut nine players from roster including a five-year MLB veteran|url=https://dailyhive.com/toronto/toronto-blue-jays-cut-nine-players|access-date=March 28, 2025|website=dailyhive.com|language=en}}