Will Vest Bio
William Lane Vest, known professionally as Will Vest, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed reliever, he debuted in the major leagues in 2021 and has developed into one of the most trusted late-inning arms in the Detroit bullpen. Vest previously appeared in MLB with the Seattle Mariners and has steadily built his résumé through a combination of velocity, command, and competitive poise.
Born on June 6, 1995, Vest was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2017 before spending a brief stint with Seattle through the Rule 5 draft. Since returning to the Tigers organization in 2021, he has carved out a defined role as a setup man and closer, with his most prominent workload arriving during the 2025 season.
Early Life and Background
Will Vest grew up in the Sienna, Texas, area and attended Ridge Point High School, where he played on the school’s baseball team. During his high school years, he was used primarily as a shortstop, a position that helped develop the athleticism and defensive instincts he later carried into his pitching career. His time at Ridge Point laid the foundation for his transition to competitive baseball at the next level.
After high school, Vest enrolled at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he joined the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks baseball program. It was during his college career that he was converted into a pitcher, a move that reshaped his professional trajectory. The change of position eventually drew the attention of MLB scouts and positioned him for a future in professional baseball.
Path to Baseball
Vest’s path to professional baseball gained momentum when the Detroit Tigers selected him in the 12th round of the 2017 MLB Draft with the 365th overall pick. He made his professional debut that summer with the Low-A Connecticut Tigers, where he posted a 3–1 record with a 2.83 ERA across 21 games. The strong start offered early validation that his conversion to pitching was producing results.
From 2018 through 2019, Vest continued to move through the Tigers’ minor league system, splitting time between the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps, the High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers, the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, and the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. Across those assignments, he refined his pitch mix and built endurance for higher-level competition. The 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, temporarily halting his development before he could return to the mound in 2021.
Will Vest Career
Early Career (2021)
On December 10, 2020, the Seattle Mariners selected Vest from the Tigers in the Rule 5 draft, putting him on a fast track toward the major leagues. He earned a spot on Seattle’s Opening Day roster in 2021 and made his MLB debut in relief that day, a milestone that officially launched his big-league career. Over the first half of the season, he struggled to find consistency in the Mariners’ bullpen.
By July 12, 2021, Seattle designated Vest for assignment after he posted a 6.17 ERA across 32 relief appearances. He cleared waivers, and the Mariners returned him to the Detroit Tigers on July 17, 2021. The Tigers assigned him to Triple-A Toledo, where he worked to stabilize his performance before earning another opportunity at the major league level.
Detroit Tigers Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Vest made the Tigers’ Opening Day roster for the 2022 season and quickly began establishing himself in the bullpen. On May 13, 2022, he recorded his first career save in a 4–2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, entering a bases-loaded situation with one out in the ninth inning and striking out both batters he faced. A brief stint on the COVID-19 inactive list interrupted his 2022 campaign, but he returned to the Tigers by the end of May.
In 2023, Vest opened the year at Triple-A Toledo before being called up to Detroit on April 18 as the 27th man on the roster for a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians. He was sent back down without appearing in a game but returned three days later after another pitcher landed on the injured list. On June 26, 2023, he was forced into early action after starter Matthew Boyd left with elbow discomfort, and Vest himself later exited with right knee discomfort, placing him on the injured list. In his abbreviated 2023 season, he pitched 48⅓ innings, struck out 56 batters, and posted a 2.98 ERA.
Vest’s 2024 campaign was defined by middle relief and setup duties. He delivered a 2.82 ERA with 63 strikeouts across 70⅓ innings, demonstrating durability and consistency throughout the season. His performance helped reinforce his value to manager A. J. Hinch and positioned him for an expanded role the following year.
Detroit Tigers Era (2025–Present)
On January 9, 2025, the Tigers and Vest agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract, avoiding arbitration and securing his return to Detroit. While Hinch did not appoint a full-time closer, Vest received the majority of the closing opportunities throughout the season. By the All-Star break, he had already notched 15 saves, far outpacing teammate Tommy Kahnle, who was next closest with 9 saves.
By season’s end, Vest had recorded a team-leading 23 saves, with a 3.01 ERA and 75 strikeouts across 68⅔ innings. He then carried that form into the postseason, earning a save in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians. He also pitched the final 1⅔ innings of the clinching Game 3 victory, though it was not a save situation when he entered. Across the 2025 playoffs, Vest pitched 8 innings, allowing only 2 hits and no runs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Will Vest relies on a four-seam fastball and a sinking two-seam fastball, both averaging 95 MPH, with the four-seam fastball topping out at 99 MPH. His primary offspeed offerings are a slider averaging 86–87 MPH and a changeup averaging 87 MPH. In 2025, he added velocity to his slider, which now averages 89 MPH and is often thrown above 90 MPH, giving hitters a different look late in games.
Notable Events and Milestones
Vest’s first career save on May 13, 2022, against the Baltimore Orioles remains a defining early milestone, as he escaped a bases-loaded jam with two strikeouts. His 2025 playoff performance, highlighted by a save in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series and a scoreless 1⅔ innings in the clinching Game 3, cemented his emergence as a postseason weapon for the Tigers.
Will Vest Career Wins
Throughout his MLB career, Will Vest has accumulated wins across both the American League and minor league levels, with his most prominent victories coming in relief and save situations for the Detroit Tigers.
Detroit Tigers Highlights
Vest has been a steady contributor in the Detroit bullpen, with his 2025 season standing out as his most accomplished. He recorded 23 saves with a 3.01 ERA and 75 strikeouts across 68⅔ innings, leading the team in saves. His first major league save came on May 13, 2022, against the Baltimore Orioles, and his most recent save highlight arrived during the 2025 American League Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Other Wins and Performances
In the minors, Vest posted a 3–1 record with a 2.83 ERA in 21 games during his 2017 debut season with the Low-A Connecticut Tigers. Across subsequent minor league assignments with the West Michigan Whitecaps, Lakeland Flying Tigers, Erie SeaWolves, and Toledo Mud Hens, he continued to refine his craft before earning a sustained role in Detroit.
Will Vest Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Will Vest’s immediate family and upbringing is limited. What is known is that he grew up in the Sienna, Texas, area and attended Ridge Point High School, where he developed the baseball foundation that carried him to Stephen F. Austin State University.
Personal Life
Will Vest keeps his personal life largely private, and no public information about a spouse or children is available. He continues to focus on his professional baseball career with the Detroit Tigers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Will Vest’s emergence as the primary late-inning option in the Detroit Tigers bullpen. Although manager A. J. Hinch did not formally name a closer, Vest received the majority of the closing opportunities and converted at a high rate, recording 15 saves by the All-Star break and finishing with a team-leading 23 saves. His 3.01 ERA and 75 strikeouts across 68⅔ innings reflected both consistency and swing-and-miss stuff over a heavy workload.
Vest’s impact extended into October, where he delivered one of the most efficient postseason stretches of his career. He earned a save in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians and pitched the final 1⅔ innings of the clinching Game 3. Over 8 playoff innings, he allowed only 2 hits and no runs, reinforcing his reputation as a high-leverage reliever capable of thriving under pressure.
With a one-year, $1.4 million contract in place for 2025 and arbitration-eligible status ahead, Vest’s outlook with the Tigers remains strong heading into the next phase of his career. His combination of velocity, slider development, and closing experience positions him as a cornerstone of Detroit’s bullpen plans.