Craig Kimbrel

At 35 years old, Craig Kimbrel has this physical status:

Craig Michael Kimbrel (born May 28, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).

He played for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and the Boston Red Sox before.

He is a seven-time All-Star, two-time Reliever of the Year, and a 2018 World Series champion.

He is best known for his triple-digit fastball, as well as his distinctive pre-pitch look.

He both throws and bats right-handed and is 6 foot 0 inches (1.83 m) (95 kg). Kimbrel was dubbed their closer by the Braves in 2011 as a rookie, and set a new MLB record for saves by a rookie.

He was named with the National League's (NL) 2011 Rookie of the Year Award.

For four seasons in a row, he led the NL in saves from 2011 to 2014.

He made his 200th save with the Padres in June 2015 and the Red Sox's 300th save in May 2018, making him the youngest pitcher in MLB history to reach the milestone.

Early life

Craig is the son of Mike and Sandy Kimbrel's. He attended Lee High School in Huntsville, Alabama, where he played baseball and was a quarterback for the football team. Kimbrel was a teammate of Buddy Boshers in baseball.

Kimbrel attended Wallace State Community College. Kimbrel was the team's closer and a spot starter during his 8–0 win-loss record as a freshman in 2007 while also serving as the team's closer and a spot starter. He was 9-3 with a 2.88 ERA in 2008, beating out 123 batters in 81 innings pitched, mainly as a reliever.

Personal life

Kimbrel has two brothers, Alan and Matt. Matt Kimbrel played in the Braves minor leagues for three seasons before being banned.

Ashley Holt, a former Wallace State cheerleader, married Kimbrel in 2012. The couple's daughter was born on November 3, 2017. She was born with heart defects and has undergone two surgeries.

Kimbrel is a born-again Christian.

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Professional career

Kimbrel was chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the 33rd round of the 2007 MLB draft, but the Braves denied him a spot in the draft, but he chose Wallace State in order to improve his draft position. He was then selected by the Braves in the third round of the 2008 MLB draft, with the 96th overall pick in the entire draft.

Kimbrel received his first call-up from the Gwinnett Braves on May 15, 2010 to replace the injured Jair Jurrjens on the roster. On June 4, 2010, he was called up for the second time in his career to replace Takashi Saito, who was put on the 15-day DL. On September 19, 2010, against the New York Mets, he earned his first major league save. Kimbrel's record for the 2010 season was 4–0, with one save and a 0.44 ERA in 20+2/3 innings. He had 40 strikeouts and 16 walks. In Game 3 against the eventual World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, he was the losing pitcher in the 2010 NLDS.

Kimbrel was the team's primary closer when the 2011 season started, making the roster for the team's first season. He had been successful in his first four save attempts before losing his first career save on April 21, 2011. Kimbrel set the most saves by a National League rookie before the All-Star break on June 3, 2011. He is the fastest Braves pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts in a row, finishing his career with 59+1/3 innings. His latest record beat the previous record set by John Rocker in the 1998-1999 season, where Rocker's 70th career innings gave him the 100th career strikeout record. Jonathan Papelbon's record for most saves by a rookie before the All-Star break tied for his 26th saves. Kimbrel's 27th save of the year against the Colorado Rockies on July 7, breaking Papelbon's record.

Kimbrel was voted to the 2011 All Star Game for the first time in the majors. Bruce Bochy, the San Francisco Giants' manager, selected Kimbrel as a replacement for Giants pitcher Matt Cain.

Kimbrel set a new Braves rookie record for saves in a season (31).

Kimbrel tied for the national League rookie record for saves in a season against the Florida Marlins on August 9, 2011 (36 by Todd Worrell of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986). In a game against the San Francisco Giants on August 17, he tied a record. Kimbrel struck out on August 21, 2011, a match that came with his 39th save of the season and a string of 30+2/3 innings without yielding a single run. Kimbrel made his 40th save on August 23, 2011, tying Neftal's rookie save record. Feliz's Bruton was the highest saver on record. In a game against the Washington Nationals, he tied for the 41st save on August 31 with two strikeouts. He led the majors in saves at the time and had not given up a single run in his last 34 innings. Kimbrel recorded 34 scoreless innings on the longest scoreless streak in the majors in 2011, defeating Cliff Lee's record of 34 scoreless innings. For August 2011, he was named the NL Rookie of the Month and Delivery Man of the Month. On September 9, 2011, his scoreless inning streak came to an end.

Kimbrel blew a save against the Philadelphia Phillies in the last game of the season, bringing the Braves' season to a close. Atlanta was knocked out of playoff contention by the loss, capping a dramatic late-season slump that squandered a huge lead of 8+1 games in the National League Wild Card competition early September. Kimbrel's poor September (4.76 ERA) sparked allegations that manager Fredi González had overworked him over the course of the season.

Kimbrel finished the season tied for the National League with 46 saves, over the previous rookie record of 40, which was set by Feliz in 2010—and led major league relievers with 127 strikeouts in 77 innings.

The results of their 2011 National League Rookie of the Year poll, according to Baseball Writer's Association of America, included Craig Kimbrel among the first unanimous selections since 2001 champion Albert Pujols—for 160 points. With 21 second-place votes and seven third-place votes, Freddie Freeman finished second, making the pair the first two people to reach the top two positions since 1989, when the Chicago Cubs' Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith came in second and second in the polls. Gene Conley was voted third-best rookie of the 1954 season, and Hank Aaron came in fourth, the only other time the two Braves appeared in the top five. The Major League Baseball Players Association also named him as the Outstanding Rookie of the NL Outstanding Rookie.

Kimbrel made the All-Star team in 2012. He struck out the two batters he faced. In September 2012, he received the Delivery Man of the Month Award. In the ninth inning, he struck out four batters out of the park on September 26, he slugged out four batters.

Kimbrel was largely dominant throughout the 2012 season. With 42 saves (in 45 attempts), he led the National League in 45 saves (in 45 chances) and Win Probability Among pitchers. In 62+2/3 innings, he struck out 116 batters, resulting in a K/9 rate of 16.7 percent. In doing so, he became the first pitcher in history to strike out at least half the batters he faced during a season. On 56% of the batters he faced, he had a 0-2 record on 56% of the batters. Kimbrel pitched only 3.9 runs and 2.0 walks per 9 innings, giving him a WHIP of 0.65 and a batting average of.126. He retired with a ERA of 1.01. He was named the NL Rolaids Relief Man Award. Kimbrel placed fifth in the 2012 National League Cy Young Award nomination and eighth in the 2012 National League MVP poll.

Kimbrel started the 2013 season with three blow saves in his first nine save chances, tying his personal record for blown saves during the entire 2012 season. Nevertheless, Kimbrel made his 100th save on May 9, 2013 in a match against the San Francisco Giants, making him the second youngest player in MLB history to reach that milestone. With a save over the Cardinals on July 27, 2013, he became only the second Atlanta pitcher after John Smoltz to have three 30-save seasons. On August 17, 2013, Kimbrel tied John Smoltz' Braves record of 27 consecutive saves.

In a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 27, Kimbrel recorded his 50th save of the season on the season. He became the 11th pitcher in Major League history to have a 50-save season in doing so. He received the Delivery Man of the Year award (across all of MLB) and was also named the "GIBBY Awards" Closer of the Year by the fans, media, former players, and SABR.

Kimbrel announced on February 16, 2014 that he had a four-year, $42 million contract with the Braves, as well as a franchise for 2018. Kimbrel tied Gene Garber's 141 saves with the Braves on April 2, good for second in franchise history. Kimbrel made his 142nd appearance in his career on April 4, putting him in sole possession of second place. Kimbrel became the first pitcher to reach 400 strikeouts on April 25, 2014, breaking the record in 236 innings. Kimbrel made his 155th save in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 6, 2014, defeating John Smoltz as the new franchise saves leader. Kimbrel made his 40th save of the season on August 29, 2014. In four seasons, he became the third pitcher to reach the single-season record. In 61+2/3 innings, Kimbrel finished the season with a 1.61 ERA and 95 strikeouts. He made 47 saves in the National League, making him the first pitcher to lead the NL in saves for four seasons since Bruce Sutter (1979–82).

Kimbrel was traded to the San Diego Padres alongside outfielder Melvin Upton, Jr., in exchange for Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin, prospects Matt Wisler, Jordan Paroubeck, and the 41st overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft on April 5, 2015.

Kimbrel made his 200th career save against his former team, the Braves, on June 8. He was the fastest pitcher to reach the record, but he only played 318 games in order to do so.

Kimbrel made 61 appearances, totaling 53 games while still 38 saves; he pitched out 87 in 59+13 innings with a 2.58 ERA in his one season with the Padres; he struck out 87 times in 62 games.

The Padres sold Kimbrel to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Manuel Margot, Javy Guerra, Carlos Asuaje, and Logan Allen on November 13, 2015.

Kimbrel suffered his knee while warming ups on July 8, 2016. An MRI examination revealed a tear in the left knee's medial meniscus. The injury necessitated surgery, and three to six weeks to recover. At the start of August, he returned to the bullpen.

Kimbrel made 57 appearances for the 2016 Red Sox, winning 47 games and making 31 saves. He had a 3.40 ERA in 53 innings pitched while striking out 83 and walking 30.

Kimbrel made two appearances in the 2016 American League Division Series, three by strikeout, as the Red Sox were defeated by the Cleveland Indians.

Kimbrel's ninth inning on nine consecutive pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 11, 2017, defeating Pedro Martez and Clay Buchholz as the only pitchers in franchise history to achieve this feat. Kimbrel recorded their second four-strike out inning against the Texas Rangers two weeks later. Kimbrel was then named AL Reliever of the Month for May.

Kimbrel made 67 appearances for the 2017 Red Sox during the regular season, winning 51 games while making 35 saves. In a 69 innings pitched, he had a 1.43 ERA, but he was out 126 and walking 14. He held right-handed batters to the lowest batting average of 30 or more innings.

Kimbrel made two one-inning appearances in the 2017 American League Division Series, giving up four runs, one walk, and one run in two strikeouts as the Red Sox lost to the Houston Astros, the eventual World Series champions.

Kimbrel made his 300th career save against the Texas Rangers on May 5, 2018. He played more games (494), fewer save chances (330), and at a younger age (29) than any other pitcher. Kimbrel made his 27th save of the season on July 8, 2018 MLB All-Star Game. Kimbrel made 42 saves in 63 appearances in 2018, pitching to a 2.74 ERA in 62+13 innings.

Kimbrel had six saves in 10+2/3 innings as the Red Sox went on to win the World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the postseason, while allowing seven earned runs in 10+2/3 innings. Kimbrel turned down Boston's one-year, $17.9 million qualifying bid on November 12, effectively becoming a free agent.

Kimbrel did not sign with any clubs during the offseason, and stayed a free agent into the 2019 season.

Kimbrel signed with the Chicago Cubs on a three-year deal, potentially worth $43 million. He was recalled from the Triple-A Iowa Cubs' major league roster on June 27 and made his first save of the season against Atlanta on June 27. He was admitted to the Illinois Hospital on August 5, 2019, for a knee injury. He was recalled from the Illinois on August 18, 2019 to assist the Cubs' beleaguered bullpen. In 23 games, he was 0–4 with 13 saves and a 6.53 ERA.

Kimbrel went 0–1 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with a 5.28 ERA, had 28 strikeouts and 12 walks in 15+13 innings.

After the Cubs defeated the Pirates 4–1 at Pittsburgh on May 26, 2021, Kimbrel climbed to 11th on the all time saves list. Kimbrel, Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, and Andrew Chafin pitched a combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 24, 2021.

The Cubs traded Kimbrel to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Nick Madrigal and Codi Heuer, and Cody Heuer on July 30, 2021. In three playoff games for the White Sox, Kimbrel had a 5.09 ERA in 24 regular season games and a 9.00 ERA in three playoff games. On November 22, the White Sox tried his $16 million option for the 2022 season.

The White Sox traded Kimbrel to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for A. J. Pollock on April 1, 2022. He played in 63 games for the Dodgers, finishing with a 6–7 record, 3.75 ERA, and 22 saves. However, by the end of the season, he had been banned from the closer role.

International career

Kimbrel was named the closer for Team USA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Despite not losing one lead off double in 2012, Kimbrel gave one to Nelson Cruz of the Dominican Republic in round two of the tournament. Kimbrel would continue to lose by two runs in the game and be the losing pitcher in Team USA's 3–1 loss to the eventual champions.

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