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.
Tate enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he played college baseball for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. The Gauchos and the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles were the only two Division I programs to offer Tate a scholarship. 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 to through weight training. As a sophomore, he served as the Gauchos' closer, finishing the season with a 1.45 ERA, 12 saves, and 46 . 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. 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 innings pitched.
Tate made his professional debut for 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. He spent time on the disabled list with a strained hamstring. Tate pitched 65 innings for Hickory, with a 5.12 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and 27 walks. His fastball velocity, which previously ranged from , decreased to in his time with Hickory.
After missing the start of the 2017 season with a sore shoulder, Tate made nine starts for the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, pitching to a 2.62 ERA. The Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League in August, where he finished the season, posting a 1–2 record with a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings.
On July 26, 2019, the Orioles promoted Tate to the major leagues. He made his debut on July 29, allowing three runs over two innings pitched. 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 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 innings pitched.
On January 13, 2023, Tate agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Orioles, avoiding salary arbitration. 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.
Tate made 29 appearances for Baltimore in 2024, recording a 4.59 ERA with 23 strikeouts across innings pitched. Tate was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Forrest Wall on August 28, 2024.
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 ERA with seven strikeouts across innings pitched. He was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on May 9. Tate cleared waivers and was sent outright to Buffalo on May 12. On September 1, the Blue Jays added Tate back to their active roster.
Career
Texas Rangers
New York Yankees
Baltimore Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays
External links
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