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Getting to know Dillon Tate, the newest Blue Jays bullpen call-up
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Photo credit: © Thomas Shea - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Sep 18, 2024, 17:30 EDTUpdated: Sep 18, 2024, 17:40 EDT
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The rotation of relievers continues, as the Toronto Blue Jays made a transaction on Wednesday.
Dillon Tate was claimed off waivers on September 1 by the Jays and was immediately optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. However, he was called up to the big leagues Wednesday afternoon, while Luis Frías was optioned to the Bisons.
The right-hander was dealt in a couple of notable trades as a prospect. In 2016, he was traded by the Texas Rangers, along with Erik Swanson and Nick Green, to the New York Yankees in exchange for Carlos Beltran. A couple of years later, the Yankees moved him to Baltimore as part of the return for Zack Britton.
Tate was selected fourth overall in the 2015 draft by the Rangers and made his Major League debut in 2019 with the Orioles. That season, he had a 6.43 ERA and a 5.17 FIP in 21 innings pitched, along with a 21.5 K% and a 9.7 BB%. The following season in 2020, Tate posted a 3.24 ERA and a 3.55 FIP in 16.2 innings pitched, along with a 21.9 K% and a 7.8 BB%.
He became a regular out of the Orioles bullpen in 2021, posting a 4.39 ERA and a 4.40 FIP in 67.2 innings pitched, along with a 17.1 K% and an 8 BB%. Tate’s 2022 season was the best of his career, as he had a 3.05 ERA and a 3.48 FIP in 73.2 innings pitched, along with a 20.5 K% and a 5.5 BB%.
The right-handed pitcher missed most of 2023 but returned to the Orioles’ bullpen in 2024, where he had a 4.59 ERA and a 3.74 FIP in 33.1 innings pitched, along with a 15.5 K% and a 6.1 BB%. While the peripherals were solid, the Orioles became contenders and felt no need for Tate on their 26-man roster, designating him for assignment at the end of August.
There’s a lot to like about Tate. Out of college, he was a top 5 pick and was once ranked as the 36th-best prospect in all of baseball in 2016. Tate sits 94-97 mph with the fastball that has some sink, while he has a hard slider and a mid-80s changeup. Command and control have been inconsistent in Tate’s career, but all three of his pitches have life on them.
As for Frías, the 26-year-old was hit around in his four appearances as a Blue Jays, giving up eight earned runs in just 8.1 innings pitched. He’ll be out of option years next season, meaning he’ll have to clear through waivers if the Jays wish to keep him in Buffalo in 2025.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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