Dillon Michael Tate Bio
Dillon Michael Tate is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays. Tate was selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the Orioles in 2019. He has appeared in over 100 major league games, primarily as a reliever, and has served as a closer during portions of his career.
Early Life and Background
Dillon Michael Tate was born on May 1, 1994. He attended Claremont High School in Claremont, California, and graduated in 2012. During his time at Claremont, Tate was a member of the school baseball team but received limited playing time as a freshman. Seeking additional development opportunities, he began training at the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California.
Tate was not selected in the MLB draft upon graduating high school. He enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he played college baseball for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. The Gauchos and Oral Roberts Golden Eagles were the only two Division I programs to offer Tate a scholarship.
College Career at UC Santa Barbara
As a freshman at UC Santa Barbara, Tate appeared in four games, pitching three innings with a 9.00 earned run average. That summer, he dedicated himself to weight training and increased his weight from 165 pounds to 200 pounds, transforming his physique for collegiate competition. As a sophomore, Tate served as the Gauchos closer and finished the season with a 1.45 earned run average, 12 saves, and 46 strikeouts.
Entering what would have been his junior season in 2015, Tate was expected to resume his role as the closer. However, after one of the team starters suffered an injury, Tate was converted to a starting pitcher. He went on to start 14 games during his junior year, posting an 8-5 win-loss record with a 2.26 earned run average and 111 strikeouts in 103 and one-third innings pitched. He was considered one of the top prospects heading into the 2015 MLB draft.
Dillon Michael Tate Career
Texas Rangers (2015)
The Texas Rangers selected Tate with the fourth overall selection in the 2015 MLB draft. He signed with the Rangers on June 12, receiving a $4.2 million signing bonus. Tate made his professional debut with the Spokane Indians of the Low-A Northwest League and was promoted to the Hickory Crawdads of the Single-A South Atlantic League in 2016.
During his time with Hickory, Tate pitched 65 innings with a 5.12 earned run average, 55 strikeouts, and 27 walks. His fastball velocity, which had previously ranged from 92 to 98 miles per hour, decreased to 90 to 93 miles per hour during his stint with the Crawdads.
New York Yankees (2016-2018)
On August 1, 2016, the Rangers traded Tate along with Erik Swanson and Nick Green to the New York Yankees in exchange for Carlos Beltran. The Yankees assigned Tate to the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs to work as a reliever for the remainder of the season, focusing on fixing mechanical flaws with pitching coach Justin Pope to help increase his velocity. In 17 and one-third innings for Charleston, Tate posted a 3.12 earned run average with a 1.56 WHIP. The Yankees subsequently assigned him to the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League, where he was named to the Fall Stars Game.
Tate missed the start of the 2017 season with a sore shoulder. He made nine starts for the Tampa Yankees of the High-A Florida State League, recording a 2.62 earned run average. The Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League in August, where he finished the season with a 1-2 record and 3.24 earned run average in 25 innings.
Baltimore Orioles (2018-2024)
On July 24, 2018, the Yankees traded Tate, Cody Carroll, and Josh Rogers to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Zack Britton. Tate spent the 2018 season split between Double-A Trenton and the Bowie Baysox, compiling a 7-5 record with a 4.16 earned run average in 123 and one-third innings. On November 20, the Orioles added Tate to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He returned to Bowie to begin the 2019 season.
The Orioles promoted Tate to the major leagues on July 26, 2019. He made his MLB debut on July 29, allowing three runs over two innings pitched. Tate finished his rookie season with a 6.43 earned run average across 16 appearances. He pitched in 12 games for Baltimore in 2020, posting a 3.24 earned run average with 14 strikeouts.
In 2021, Tate appeared in 62 games for the Orioles, registering an 0-6 record with a 4.39 earned run average and 49 strikeouts in 67 and two-thirds innings. He enjoyed a career year in 2022, appearing in 67 games and posting a 4-4 record with a 3.05 earned run average, 60 strikeouts, and 5 saves in 73 and two-thirds innings pitched.
On January 13, 2023, Tate agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Orioles, avoiding salary arbitration. However, it was announced on February 16 that Tate had suffered a flexor strain in late November and would miss the first month of the season. Tate made 29 appearances for Baltimore in 2024, recording a 4.59 earned run average with 23 strikeouts across 33 and one-third innings. The Orioles designated him for assignment following the acquisition of Forrest Wall on August 28, 2024.
Toronto Blue Jays (2024-2025)
On September 1, 2024, Tate was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays. In four games for Toronto, he logged a 5.40 earned run average with 4 strikeouts across 3 and one-third innings pitched. On November 22, the Blue Jays non-tendered Tate, making him a free agent.
On March 12, 2025, Tate re-signed with the Blue Jays on a one-year, $1.4 million contract. He was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to begin the season. In five appearances for Toronto, Tate recorded a 5.06 earned run average with seven strikeouts across 5 and one-third innings pitched. He was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on May 9, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Buffalo on May 12. On September 1, the Blue Jays added Tate back to their active roster. On November 6, 2025, the Blue Jays outrighted Tate to the minors, but he elected to become a free agent.
Dillon Michael Tate Career Wins
Across his MLB career spanning from 2019 through the 2025 season, Tate has compiled a 7-14 win-loss record with a 4.09 earned run average and 178 strikeouts in 149 and one-third innings pitched. He has appeared in over 100 major league games, primarily working in relief roles while also earning 5 saves during the 2022 season.
MLB Highlights
Tate made his major league debut on July 29, 2019, with the Baltimore Orioles. His 2022 season stands out as his most productive, as he appeared in 67 games and posted career highs in wins (4), saves (5), and innings pitched (73 and two-thirds) while maintaining a 3.05 earned run average. He earned his first career win during the 2022 campaign. Tate has represented the United States in international competition, winning a medal at the Haarlem Baseball Week in 2014.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Tate split time between Triple-A Buffalo and the Toronto Blue Jays. After re-signing with Toronto in March, he began the year with the Triple-A Bisons before earning a promotion to the majors. Tate appeared in five games for the Blue Jays early in the season before being designated for assignment in May. He cleared waivers and remained with Buffalo until early September when Toronto added him back to their active roster.
Throughout the season, Tate worked primarily as a middle reliever, logging limited innings across multiple appearances. His combined statistics between the minor and major leagues reflected a challenging year as he worked to regain consistency. Following the season, the Blue Jays outrighted him to the minors, and Tate elected free agency, becoming available to sign with any team for the 2026 season.
Family
Family Background and Education
Tate grew up in Claremont, California, where he attended Claremont High School. His path to professional baseball included training at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton during his high school years. After going undrafted out of high school, he earned a scholarship to play at UC Santa Barbara, one of only two Division I programs to offer him a opportunity.
Personal Life
Tate continues to maintain his connection to the game of baseball as a professional pitcher. His professional career has taken him through multiple organizations as he has worked to establish himself at the major league level.