| Tyler Kinley | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kinley with the Marlins in 2018 | |
| Atlanta Braves | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1991-01-31)January 31, 1991 (age 35) Plantation, Florida, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 7, 2018, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 19–14 |
| Earned run average | 4.75 |
| Strikeouts | 342 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Tyler Harrison Kinley (born January 31, 1991) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theAtlanta Braves ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theMinnesota Twins,Miami Marlins, andColorado Rockies. Kinley was selected by the Marlins in the 16th round of the2013 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Twins.
Kinley attendedNova High School inDavie, Florida, andBarry University, where he playedcollege baseball for theBarry Buccaneers. TheMiami Marlins selected Kinley in the 16th round of the2013 MLB draft.[1] He was limited by injuries during his time with the Marlins organization.[2] After he signed with the Marlins, he spent the rest of the 2013 season with both theGulf Coast League Marlins of theRookie-levelGulf Coast League and theBatavia Muckdogs of theLow-ANew York-Penn League, pitching to a combined 0–1win–loss record and 7.07earned run average (ERA) in 14innings pitched. He spent the 2014 season with theGreensboro Grasshoppers of theSingle-ASouth Atlantic League, compiling a 3–1 record and 2.70 ERA in 28 relief appearances. In 2015, Kinley played for theJupiter Hammerheads of theHigh-AFlorida State League, pitching to a 1–3 record and 3.25 ERA in44+1⁄3 innings.[3]
In 2016, Kinley began the season with theJacksonville Suns of theDouble-ASouthern League, where he pitched to a 3.96 ERA with 51strikeouts in 50 innings.[3][4] He was then promoted to theNew Orleans Zephyrs of theTriple-APacific Coast League, but struggled in eight appearances.[3][4] Kinley began the 2017 season Jacksonville, but pitched to a 5.19 ERA with the Jumbo Shrimp in 27 games. He was demoted to the Jupiter, where he had a 1.98 ERA.[3][4][5] Through the end of the 2017 season, Kinley had recorded 212 strikeouts in204+1⁄3 innings pitched in his minor league career.[4]
After the 2017 season, the Marlins opted not to protect Kinley on their40-man roster. Kinley then pitched for theTigres del Licey of theDominican Winter League, where he had a 0.47 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. TheMinnesota Twins selected him from the Marlins organization in the2017 Rule 5 draft.[6][7]
Kinley made the Twins' 2018Opening Day25-man roster.[8] He allowed nineearned runs on ninehits, including twohome runs with four strikeouts and fourwalks in3+1⁄3 innings pitched for a 24.30 ERA before he wasdesignated for assignment on April 26.[9]
The Twins returned Kinley to theMiami Marlins on May 1, 2018. He was assigned to New Orleans. The Marlins promoted him to the major leagues on September 4.[10] Kinley pitched to a 3.65 ERA in49+1⁄3 innings pitched in the 2019 season, while also allowing 36 walks.[11]
On December 9, 2019, Kinley was claimed off waivers by theColorado Rockies from Miami.[12] In 2020 with the Rockies, Kinley recorded a 5.32 ERA with a 9.9 K/9 in23+2⁄3 innings pitched in 24 appearances.[13] In 2021, Kinley pitched in a career-high 70 games for Colorado, posting a 3-2 record and 4.73 ERA with 68 strikeouts across70+1⁄3 innings of work.
On June 15, 2022,magnetic resonance imaging showed that Kinley had a flexor tear in his right elbow.[14] He underwent season-ending surgery later that month.[15] On the year, Kinley made 25 total appearances for Colorado, recording an excellent 0.75 ERA with 27 strikeouts over 24 innings pitched
On November 18, 2022, Kinley signed a three-year contract extension with a club option for 2026 with the Rockies.[16] On August 1, 2023, Kinley was activated from the injured list to make his return from the previous year's injury.[17] He made 18 appearances for the team during the regular season, struggling to an 0-4 record and 6.06 ERA with 17 strikeouts and five saves across16+1⁄3 innings pitched.[18]
Kinley made 67 appearances out of the bullpen for the Rockies during the 2024 season, pitching to a 6-1 record and 6.19 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 12 saves over 64 innings of work.[19] In 49 appearances for Colorado in 2025, Kinley compiled a 5.66 ERA with 51 strikeouts across47+2⁄3 innings pitched.
On July 30, 2025, the Rockies traded Kinley to theAtlanta Braves in exchange for Austin Smith.[20][21] He made 24 appearances down the stretch for Atlanta, posting a 5-0 record and 0.72 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 25 innings of work.[22] On November 6, the Braves declined their club option on Kinley, making him a free agent.[23]
On January 10, 2026, Kinley re-signed with the Braves on a one-year contract for $3 million, with a club option for 2027.[24][25]
Kinley previously claimed to be related toWilliam McKinley, the formerPresident of the United States.[5] However, a journalist who investigated his family history later reported that they were not related and traced Kinley's lineage back to farmers in North Carolina.[26]