Will Vest Bio
William Lane Vest, born on June 6, 1995, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners and has appeared in the major leagues since 2021, building a reputation as a dependable relief arm.
Vest was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2017 and developed through the organization’s minor league system. After a short detour with the Seattle Mariners, he returned to Detroit and steadily grew into one of the team’s most trusted late-inning options.
Early Life and Background
William Lane Vest grew up in the greater Houston area of Texas. He attended Ridge Point High School in Sienna, Texas, where he played for the school’s baseball team as a shortstop, showing the kind of athletic versatility that would later help him transition to pitching.
After high school, Vest enrolled at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he played college baseball for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. It was during his college years that he made the move from position player to pitcher, a change that reshaped his career path and set the stage for professional baseball.
Path to Baseball
Vest’s development as a pitcher at Stephen F. Austin State University caught the attention of professional scouts. His fastball and competitive approach on the mound made him an appealing project for a major league organization looking to develop relief arms.
In 2017, the Detroit Tigers selected Vest in the 12th round, with the 365th overall pick, in the 2017 MLB draft. That selection marked his entry into professional baseball and the beginning of a climb through the Tigers’ farm system.
Will Vest Career
Early Career
Vest made his professional debut with the Low-A Connecticut Tigers in 2017, posting a 3–1 record and a 2.83 ERA in 21 games. The strong start established him as a relief prospect worth monitoring within the organization.
He split the 2018 season between the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps and the High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers, recording a combined 4–4 record and 5.18 ERA in 30 appearances. In 2019, Vest moved between Lakeland, the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, and the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, pitching to a 3–5 record and 3.27 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 55 innings across 37 games. He did not play in a game in 2020, as the minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Major League Debut and Mariners Stint
On December 10, 2020, the Seattle Mariners selected Vest from the Tigers in the Rule 5 draft. He made the Mariners’ Opening Day roster and made his major league debut in relief on Opening Day, marking his first taste of MLB action.
Vest struggled to find consistency in Seattle and was designated for assignment on July 12, 2021, after recording a 6.17 ERA in 32 relief appearances. The brief stint showed flashes of his fastball-based approach but did not yet produce the results he would later find back in Detroit.
Detroit Tigers Era
Vest cleared waivers and Seattle returned him to the Tigers on July 17, 2021, and the club assigned him to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He made the Tigers’ Opening Day roster for the 2022 season, beginning a second chapter with the organization that originally drafted him.
On May 13, 2022, Vest picked up 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. He was later placed on the non-injury (COVID-19) inactive list on May 20 and returned to the Tigers on May 31. The Tigers optioned Vest to Toledo to start the 2023 season, and on April 18, 2023, he was called up as the 27th man on the roster during a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians before being sent back down. After a brief return, Vest had to leave a game on June 26, 2023, with right knee discomfort and was placed on the injured list. In his abbreviated 2023 season, he pitched 48+1⁄3 innings, striking out 56 batters and posting a 2.98 ERA.
In 2024, Vest primarily filled middle relief and setup roles for the Tigers, posting a 2.82 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 70+1⁄3 innings. On January 9, 2025, the Tigers and Vest agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract, avoiding arbitration. While manager A. J. Hinch did not name a full-time closer, Vest received the majority of the closing opportunities in 2025, finishing with a team-leading 23 saves, a 3.01 ERA, and 75 strikeouts in 68+2⁄3 innings. On January 6, 2026, the Tigers and Vest agreed on a one-year, $3.95 million contract, avoiding arbitration, and on May 2, 2026, he was placed on the 15-day injured list with right lateral forearm inflammation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vest throws four-seam and sinking two-seam fastballs, both averaging 95 MPH. The four-seam fastball has topped out at 99 MPH. His primary offspeed pitches are a slider that averages 86–87 MPH and a changeup averaging 87 MPH. In 2025, Vest added velocity to his slider, which now averages 89 MPH and is often thrown above 90 MPH.
Notable Events and Milestones
Vest earned a save in Game 1 of the 2025 American League Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians and pitched the final 1+2⁄3 innings of the clinching Game 3 victory, though it was not a save situation when he entered. Overall in the 2025 playoffs, he pitched 8 innings, allowing only 2 hits and no runs, helping anchor the Tigers’ late-inning efforts in a memorable postseason run.
Will Vest Career Wins
Will Vest has built his career as a relief pitcher, logging saves and high-leverage outs across his time with the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers. His win totals reflect a pitcher who has carved out a consistent role rather than serving as a traditional starter.
MLB Highlights
Vest’s most prominent win came on May 13, 2022, when he recorded his first career save in a 4–2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. He has since added many more saves, including a team-leading 23 saves for the Tigers in 2025, marking his most decorated regular season to date.
Other Wins and Performances
Vest has posted strong strikeout totals throughout his major league tenure, including 307 strikeouts through June 21, 2026, alongside an 18–17 win–loss record and a 3.75 ERA. He also represented the United States at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Miami, earning a medal in international competition.
Will Vest Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Vest is not known as part of a multi-generational baseball lineage, and limited public information is available about his family background. His personal story is rooted in his development as a college pitcher at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Personal Life
Public details about Vest’s personal and family life are limited. He is known professionally as a member of the Detroit Tigers organization, and his active social media presence, including his Instagram account, has allowed fans to follow his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a breakthrough year for Will Vest, as he became the primary closer for the Detroit Tigers. He had 15 saves as of the All-Star break, well ahead of teammate Tommy Kahnle, who was next closest with 9. By season’s end, Vest had a team-leading 23 saves, a 3.01 ERA, and 75 strikeouts in 68+2⁄3 innings, cementing his role as a late-inning anchor.
Vest’s performance carried into October, where he played a key role in the Tigers’ playoff run. He earned a save in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians and helped seal the clinching Game 3 victory, pitching 8 scoreless innings across the 2025 playoffs while allowing only 2 hits.
His strong finish to the 2025 season led to a new contract with Detroit on January 6, 2026, when the Tigers and Vest agreed on a one-year, $3.95 million deal to avoid arbitration. The agreement reflected his emergence as one of the most reliable relief pitchers in the Detroit bullpen heading into the next chapter of his career.
