Justin Yeager

Justin Yeager
San Diego Padres
Pitcher
Born: (1998-01-20) January 20, 1998
Woodridge, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Stats at Baseball Reference 

Justin Richard Yeager (born January 20, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization.

Career

Atlanta Braves

Yeager attended Plainfield North High School and Southern Illinois University, where he played college baseball for the Southern Illinois Salukis. The Atlanta Braves selected Yeager in the 33rd round (997th overall) of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He split his first professional season between the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves and Danville Braves. Yeager did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Yeager returned to action in 2021 with the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets and High-A Rome Braves. In 30 appearances for the two affiliates, he posted a cumulative 7-3 record and 2.93 ERA with 60 strikeouts and five saves over 40 innings of work.[3] Yeager split the 2022 season between Rome and the Double-A Mississippi Braves, accumulating a 1-0 record and 3.10 ERA with 81 strikeouts and nine saves across 49 relief appearances.[4]

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 12, 2022, the Braves sent Yeager to the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-team trade in which the Braves acquired Sean Murphy, the Brewers also acquired William Contreras, and Joel Payamps, and the Athletics acquired Manny Piña, Esteury Ruiz, Kyle Muller, Freddy Tarnok, and Royber Salinas.[5] Yeager made three scoreless appearances for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers in 2023, but missed the majority of the season due to an injury.[6]

Yeager returned to Biloxi in 2024, compiling a 3-6 record and 3.88 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 20 saves in 51 innings pitched across 47 appearances out of the bullpen.[7] He made 49 appearances split between Biloxi and the Triple-A Nashville Sounds in 2025, registering a cumulative 3-3 record and 2.04 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 10 saves across 57+1⁄3 innings pitched. Yeager elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2025.[8]

San Diego Padres

On February 4, 2026, Yeager signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.[9]

References

  1. ^ active, true (June 5, 2019). "Salukis' Yeager taken in late rounds by Braves". The Southern.
  2. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  3. ^ "Justin Yeager - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  4. ^ "Justin Yeager Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  5. ^ Anderson, R.J. (2022-12-12). "Sean Murphy trade: Braves land catcher from A's in three-team deal; Brewers get William Contreras". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  6. ^ "Justin Yeager - Baseball Statistics". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  7. ^ "The forgotten piece of the William Contreras trade is thriving in Double-A". reviewingthebrew.com. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  8. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2025". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  9. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2026-02-04
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