April 24, 2025
Right-handed pitcher Chay Yeager has been solid out of High-A Vancouver’s bullpen so far in 2025. Yeager, who has made six appearances to date is currently pitching to a 0.50 WHIP and a 1.13 ERA after 8 innings of work.
Yeager credits his excellent start to the adjustments that he made during the off-season.
“It’s just the little things,” explained Yeager. “When runners are on, it’s switching up looks, switching up timing, and trying to get ground balls. It’s playing the game a little bit smarter than I was. Instead of just throwing it and seeing what happens, it’s actually having an approach to get hitters out.”
Another change that Yeager has made is to his repertoire. The righty, who used to throw four pitches is currently only using two pitches in 2025.
Heading to the mound with a 4-seam fastball and gyro slider combo has really helped Yeager so far this season.
“I was throwing the death ball which is just a hard curveball,” stated Yeager. “During spring training some of the coaches were looking at it and said it just popped out of my hand. We tried a gyro slider which plays really well off my fastball. It looks like a fastball for 55 feet, then the last five feet it drops to the bottom.”
Working exclusively out of the bullpen, Yeager talks about what he likes about his relief role.
“Throwing a few times a week,” said Yeager. “If you have a bad outing, you’re back out there two days later, sometimes a day later. I like to bounce back, recover, and be there whenever the team needs me.”
Currently in his second season with Vancouver, Yeager discusses his approach towards the High-A hitters.
“A lot of them have really good approaches,” explained Yeager. “I try to have an approach of my own when I come in. We study these hitters We study their at-bats against other pitchers. So, knowing their holes and attacking them.”
A former infielder in college, Yeager feels his background as a hitter at a high-level helps him understand pitching better in pro ball.
“Yes, it definitely helps for sure,” Yeager added. “I’ve swung at a lot of changeups and sliders in the dirt when I was expecting a fastball. So, knowing now, and learning the little things that I can see, if they take a bad swing at a fastball, I can come at them with a slider down and they’ll just lay out in front of it, or I can go fastball up depending on the previous swing.”
Be sure to follow Chay Yeager, as he continues to be an excellent bullpen option for years to come.