Mike Yastrzemski Bio
Michael Andrew Yastrzemski, widely known by his nickname “Yaz,” is an American professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on August 23, 1990, in Andover, Massachusetts, he has built a reputation as a reliable corner outfielder with power and patience at the plate. Over the course of his MLB career, Yastrzemski has also suited up for the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals, establishing himself as a respected middle-of-the-order bat. He is the grandson of Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, whose legendary career with the Boston Red Sox shaped the family’s deep ties to the sport.
Early Life and Background
Yastrzemski grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, and attended St. John’s Preparatory School in nearby Danvers, where he played for the school’s baseball team. He was named team captain in his senior year, demonstrating the leadership qualities that would later define his professional approach. As a highly regarded amateur prospect in the 2009 MLB draft, he signaled his intention to attend college unless selected in the first round, a stance that led the Boston Red Sox to take him in the 36th round while he chose to honor his commitment to Vanderbilt University.
Yastrzemski comes from a family steeped in baseball tradition. His father, Carl Yastrzemski Jr., who went by Mike, played college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 1984 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase. Carl Jr. played professionally in the minor leagues from 1984 to 1988 before passing away in 2004 at the age of 43 from a blood clot following hip surgery. His mother, Anne-Marie, and father divorced when Mike was six years old. His grandfather, Carl Yastrzemski, became an integral part of his development, beginning to teach him hitting during Mike’s freshman year of high school and offering guidance throughout his career.
Path to Baseball
At Vanderbilt University, Yastrzemski became a starter for the Vanderbilt Commodores midway through his freshman year and quickly established himself as a steady contributor. During the summers of 2010 and 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, gaining exposure against top amateur competition. Following his junior season, the Seattle Mariners selected him in the 30th round of the 2012 MLB draft and offered a $300,000 signing bonus, but Yastrzemski chose to return to Vanderbilt for his senior year. In his final collegiate season, he was named All-Southeastern Conference, cementing his status as a legitimate professional prospect.
Mike Yastrzemski Career
Early Career (2013–2018)
The Baltimore Orioles selected Yastrzemski in the 14th round of the 2013 MLB draft, and he signed to begin his professional career. He opened with the Aberdeen IronBirds of the Low-A New York-Penn League, batting .273 with three home runs and 25 runs batted in while earning mid-season All-Star recognition. The following year, he opened with the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single-A South Atlantic League, where he led the league with 10 triples and batted .306 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI, earning another mid-season All-Star nod before promotions to High-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie.
Between Frederick and Bowie in 2014, Yastrzemski combined to bat .288 with 14 home runs, 18 stolen bases, and 18 triples, leading all of Minor League Baseball in triples. He spent 2015 with Bowie, batting .246 with six home runs and 59 RBI as an Eastern League All-Star, then split 2016 between Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, posting a .234 average with 13 home runs. After surgery following the 2016 season slowed his 2017 campaign, he returned to Norfolk in 2018 and was invited to Orioles spring training as a non-roster player in 2019.
San Francisco Giants Breakthrough (2019–2025)
On March 22, 2019, the Orioles traded Yastrzemski to the San Francisco Giants for minor league pitcher Tyler Herb, and he opened the year at Triple-A Sacramento before earning a promotion on May 25, 2019. He made his MLB debut the same day, going 0-for-3 with a run scored in a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, then collected his first career hit the following afternoon. He hit his first career home run off Andrew Cashner of the Orioles on May 31, and on August 16 he launched three home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, including a walk-off shot in the 11th inning. He finished his debut season with 21 home runs, tying Kevin Pillar for the team lead, and became the first Giants rookie since Dave Kingman in 1972 to surpass 20 homers.
In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Yastrzemski batted .297/.400/.568 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI, leading the National League in triples and ranking among the senior circuit leaders in on-base percentage and OPS. He earned All-MLB second team honors, finished eighth in NL Most Valuable Player voting, and received the Willie Mac Award as the Giants’ most inspirational player. The following season, he produced 25 home runs and 71 RBI while leading the National League in right-field range factor for a second straight year, and on June 15, 2021, he belted a go-ahead grand slam into McCovey Cove against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After agreeing to a $3.7 million salary for 2022, Yastrzemski set a career high with 31 doubles and added 17 home runs while playing all three outfield positions. He signed a one-year, $6.1 million contract for 2023 and a $7.9 million deal for 2024, when on September 1, 2024, he hit his 100th career home run at Oracle Park against the Miami Marlins, joining his grandfather as just the fourth grandfather-grandson duo in MLB history to each clear 100 homers. He finished the Giants portion of 2025 with a .231 average, eight home runs, and 28 RBI across 96 games before being dealt.
Kansas City Royals (2025)
On July 31, 2025, the San Francisco Giants traded Yastrzemski to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitcher Yunior Marte, giving him a fresh opportunity down the stretch. He provided right-handed thump and corner outfield defense for a Royals club chasing a postseason berth, offering veteran plate discipline to a young lineup. His tenure in Kansas City was brief, but it extended his postseason experience and kept his bat in a competitive everyday role through the end of the season.
Atlanta Braves Era (2026–Present)
On December 10, 2025, Yastrzemski signed a two-year contract with the Atlanta Braves worth up to $23 million, marking his return to a National League contender and, in a fitting twist, to the organization that once drafted his father. The deal reflected Atlanta’s belief that his power-stroke and on-base skills would bolster a retooled outfield mix. He arrived in spring training as a presumed everyday option in right or left field, bringing leadership and a track record of clutch hitting to a club aiming to return to championship contention.
Driving Style and Strengths
Yastrzemski is regarded as a disciplined hitter with a discerning eye at the plate, capable of working counts and driving the ball to all fields. He has built much of his value on his pull-side power and his ability to pepper the gaps, evidenced by his 2020 National League triples title and his career-high 31 doubles in 2022. Defensively, his strong routes and reliable arm have made him a steady presence in the corners, where he has led the league in range factor at his position. He has shown a flair for the dramatic throughout his career, none more so than his walk-off home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019 and his splash-hit grand slam in 2021.
Notable Events and Milestones
Yastrzemski authored one of the signature moments of his career on August 16, 2019, when he hit three home runs at Chase Field, capped by a game-winning blast in the 11th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. On September 17, 2019, he homered at Fenway Park for the first time, a solo shot in a 15-inning Giants win, and caught a ceremonial first pitch from his grandfather the following afternoon. On September 1, 2024, he joined his grandfather in the 100-homer club, cementing a rare family milestone in Major League history.
Mike Yastrzemski Career Wins
While individual win totals fluctuate with role and team context, Yastrzemski has produced consistent power and run production across his Major League career, with his 21-homer 2019 debut standing as his highest single-season output. He has shown an ability to deliver in big moments, from walk-off home runs to clutch grand slams, and his on-base skills have made him a fixture near the top of Giants and Royals lineups.
Major League Highlights
Yastrzemski’s most celebrated Major League achievements include his 2020 All-MLB second team selection, his Willie Mac Award, his National League triples crown, and his Gold Glove nomination in right field in 2021. He has surpassed the 20-homer mark in three separate seasons with the Giants and has joined his grandfather in Major League Baseball’s 100-career-home-run club.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the Majors, Yastrzemski earned multiple minor league All-Star nods, including a New York-Penn League mid-season selection in 2013 and a South Atlantic League mid-season selection in 2014. He was also a 2015 Eastern League All-Star and an MiLB Orioles organization All-Star, a recognition that underscored his steady development through the Baltimore farm system before his trade to the Giants.
Mike Yastrzemski Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Yastrzemski comes from one of baseball’s most storied families. His grandfather, Carl Yastrzemski, is a National Baseball Hall of Famer who spent his entire 23-year Major League career with the Boston Red Sox and ranks among the greatest hitters in baseball history. His father, Carl Yastrzemski Jr., pursued a professional career of his own after being drafted by the Atlanta Braves and playing in the minor leagues from 1984 to 1988, passing along both the family’s baseball DNA and an enduring connection to the game.
Personal Life
Yastrzemski married his wife, Paige (née Cahill), in November 2018 after meeting her at Vanderbilt University. The couple has two children, a daughter and a son, and they have made their home in Andover, Massachusetts. Yastrzemski remains closely tied to his grandfather, who has served as a mentor and hitting coach since his high school days and who threw a ceremonial first pitch to him at Fenway Park in 2019.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Yastrzemski in his seventh year with the San Francisco Giants, where he posted a .231/.330/.355 line with eight home runs and 28 RBI over 96 games while patrolling all three outfield spots. On July 31, 2025, the Giants dealt him to the Kansas City Royals for Yunior Marte, thrusting him into a pennant race and giving him a chance to contribute to an American League contender. Yastrzemski provided veteran right-handed thump and outfield depth as Kansas City pushed toward a postseason spot, capping a year that ended with his free-agent deal in Atlanta. His ability to adapt to two clubs and remain productive underscored the consistency that has defined his career, and he heads into 2026 motivated to deliver for a Braves team investing heavily in his bat and experience.