As a rookie with the Braves in 2011, Kimbrel was named theircloser and set an MLB record forsaves by a rookie, with 46. He was awarded theNational League's (NL) 2011Rookie of the Year Award. Heled the NL in saves for four consecutive seasons (2011– 2014). He recorded his 200th save in June 2015 with the Padres, and his300th save in May 2018 with the Red Sox, making him the youngest pitcher in MLB history to reach the milestone. On May 26, 2023, Kimbrel became the eighth major-league pitcher to achieve 400 career saves.
TheAtlanta Braves selected Kimbrel in the 33rd round of the2007 MLB draft, but he elected to remain at Wallace State in order to improve his draft position. He was then taken by the Braves in the third round, with the 96th overall selection, of the2008 MLB draft.[7]
Kimbrel got his first call-up from theGwinnett Braves on May 15, 2010, to replace the injuredJair Jurrjens on the roster.[8] He was called up for the second time in his career on June 4, 2010, to replaceTakashi Saito, who was placed on the 15-day DL.[9] He earned his first major league save on September 19, 2010, against theNew York Mets. Kimbrel's record for the2010 season was 4–0, with one save and a 0.44 ERA in20+2⁄3 innings. He recorded 40 strikeouts and 16walks.[7] In the2010 NLDS, he was the losing pitcher in Game 3 against the eventualWorld Series ChampionSan Francisco Giants.
Kimbrel made the roster to start the 2011 season as the team's primary closer. He was successful in his first four save opportunities before blowing his first career save on April 21, 2011. On June 3, 2011, in a game versus theNew York Mets, Kimbrel passed the record for most saves by a National League rookie before the All-Star break.[10] He is the fastest Braves pitcher to reach 100 career strikeouts, doing so in59+1⁄3 career innings. His new record surpassed the previous record set byJohn Rocker in the 1998–1999 season, where it took Rocker 70 career innings to reach the 100 career strikeout mark.[11] On July 5, his 26th save matchedJonathan Papelbon's record for most saves by a rookie before the All-Star break.[12] On July 7, Kimbrel's 27th save of the year against theColorado Rockies broke Papelbon's record.[13]
On July 22, 2011, in a game versus theCincinnati Reds, Kimbrel broke the Braves rookie record for saves in a season (31).[16]
On August 9, 2011, in a game versus theFlorida Marlins, Kimbrel tied the National League rookie record for saves in a season (36 byTodd Worrell of theSt. Louis Cardinals in 1986). He broke that record on August 17 in a game versus the San Francisco Giants. On August 21, 2011, Kimbrel recorded his 100th strike out which coincided with his 39th save of the season and a string of30+2⁄3 innings without yielding a run.[17][18] On August 23, 2011, Kimbrel recorded his 40th save, tying the rookie save record ofNeftalí Feliz. He subsequently broke this record with his 41st save on August 31 with two strikeouts in a game against theWashington Nationals. At the time, he led the majors in saves and had not given up a run in his last 34 innings.[19] The following night, Kimbrel surpassedCliff Lee's mark of 34 scoreless innings with34+2⁄3 scoreless innings for the longest scoreless streak in the majors in 2011.[20] He was named theNL Rookie of the Month andDelivery Man of the Month for August 2011.[21][22] His scoreless inning streak came to an end after38+1⁄3 innings, on September 9, 2011.[23]
The Braves' season ended when Kimbrel blew a save against thePhiladelphia Phillies in the last game of the season. The loss knocked Atlanta out of playoff contention, completing a historiclate-season collapse that squandered an early September lead of8+1⁄2 games in the National League Wild Card race.[24] Kimbrel's mediocre September (4.76 ERA)[25] led to charges that managerFredi González had overworked him over the course of the season.[26][27]
Kimbrel ended the season tied for the National League lead with 46 saves—surpassing the previous rookie record of 40, set by Feliz in 2010—and led major league relievers with 127 strikeouts in 77 innings.[28]
On November 14, theBaseball Writers' Association of America announced the results of their 2011 National LeagueRookie of the Year vote; Craig Kimbrel received all 32 first-place ballots—the first unanimous selection since 2001 winnerAlbert Pujols—for 160 points.Freddie Freeman finished second in the voting with 21 second-place votes and seven third-place votes, for a total of 70 points[29]—making the pair the first teammates to take the top two spots since 1989, when theChicago Cubs'Jerome Walton andDwight Smith came in first and second in the balloting.[30][31] The only other time two Braves finished in the top five, the organization was still located in Milwaukee—Gene Conley was voted third-best rookie of the 1954 season;Hank Aaron came in fourth.[28] Kimbrel was also named thePlayers Choice Awards NL Outstanding Rookie by the Major League Baseball Players Association.[32]
Kimbrel was thoroughly dominant throughout the 2012 season. He led the National League with 42 saves (in 45 opportunities) andWin Probability Added among pitchers. He struck out 116 batters in62+2⁄3 innings, producing aK/9 rate of 16.7.[38] In so doing, he also became the first pitcher in history to strike out at least half the batters he faced during a season.[39] He also went to an 0–2 count on 56% of the batters he faced.[40] Kimbrel allowed only 3.9 hits and 2.0 walks per 9 innings he pitched, giving him aWHIP of 0.65 and abatting average against of .126. He finished with an ERA of 1.01.[38] He won the NLRolaids Relief Man Award.[41] Kimbrel finished fifth in the 2012 National League Cy Young Award voting,[42] and eighth in the 2012 National League MVP voting.[43]
Kimbrel began the 2013 season with threeblown saves during his first nine save opportunities, tying his personal record for blown saves during the entire 2012 season.[44] Nonetheless, on May 9, 2013, in a game against theSan Francisco Giants, Kimbrel earned his 100th save, making him the second youngest player in MLB history to reach that mark.[45] With a save against the Cardinals on July 27, 2013, he became only the second Atlanta pitcher after John Smoltz to have three 30-save seasons.[46] Kimbrel surpassed John Smoltz's Braves record of 27 consecutive saves on August 17, 2013.[47]
On September 27, Kimbrel recorded his 50th save of the season in a game against thePhiladelphia Phillies. In doing so, he became the 11th pitcher in Major League history to have a 50-save season.[48] He won theDelivery Man of the Year Award (across all of MLB) and also was voted the"GIBBY Awards" Closer of the Year – by the fans, media, team front-office personnel, former players, andSABR.[49]
On February 16, 2014, Kimbrel agreed to a four-year, $42 million extension with the Braves that ran through 2017, with an option for 2018.[50][51] On April 2, Kimbrel tiedGene Garber's 141 saves with the Braves, good for second in franchise history. Two days later, on April 4, Kimbrel recorded his 142nd career save, to move into sole possession of second place. On April 25, 2014, Kimbrel became the fastest pitcher ever to reach 400 strikeouts—reaching the mark in 236 innings' worth of work.[52] On June 6, 2014, Kimbrel recorded his 155th save in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, surpassingJohn Smoltz as the new franchise leader in saves.[53] On August 29, 2014, Kimbrel recorded his 40th save of the season. He became the third pitcher to reach that single-season milestone in four straight seasons.[a] Kimbrel finished the season with a 1.61 ERA and 95 strikeouts in61+2⁄3 innings.[38] He led the National League with 47 saves, becoming the first pitcher to lead the NL in saves for four consecutive seasons sinceBruce Sutter (1979–82).[citation needed]
On June 8, Kimbrel recorded his 200th career save against his former team, the Braves. He became the fastest pitcher ever to reach that milestone, taking only 318 games to do so.[56][57]
In his one season with the Padres, Kimbrel made 61 appearances, finishing 53 games while recording 39 saves; he struck out 87 while walking 22 in59+1⁄3 innings pitched with a 2.58 ERA.[38]
On July 8, 2016, Kimbrel injured his knee while taking warmups. The next day, anMRI revealed that there was a tear in themedial meniscus of the left knee. The injury required surgery, and three to six weeks to recover.[60] He returned to the bullpen at the start of August.[citation needed]
For the2016 Red Sox, Kimbrel made 57 regular season appearances, finishing 47 games while recording 31 saves. In 53 innings pitched, he had a 3.40 ERA while striking out 83 and walking 30.[38]
For the2017 Red Sox, Kimbrel made 67 regular season appearances, finishing 51 games while recording 35 saves. In 69 innings pitched, he had a 1.43 ERA while striking out 126 and walking 14. Of all MLB pitchers, he held right-handed batters to the lowest batting average, .108 (in 30 or more innings).[64]
In the2017 American League Division Series, Kimbrel made two one-inning appearances; he faced a total of 12 batters, giving up four hits, one walk, and one run while recording two strikeouts, as the Red Sox lost to the eventualWorld Series champions, theHouston Astros.[38]
On May 5, 2018, facing theTexas Rangers, Kimbrel recorded his 300th careersave. He achieved this milestone in fewer games (494), fewer save opportunities (330), and at a younger age (29) than any other pitcher.[65][66] On July 8, Kimbrel recorded his 27th save of the season, and was named to the2018 MLB All-Star Game.[67] For the 2018 regular season, Kimbrel recorded 42 saves in 63 appearances, pitching to a 2.74 ERA with 96 strikeouts in62+1⁄3 innings.[38]
In the postseason, Kimbrel recorded six saves while allowing seven earned runs in10+2⁄3 innings, as the Red Sox went on to win theWorld Series over theLos Angeles Dodgers in five games.[68] On November 12, Kimbrel declined Boston's one-year, $17.9 million qualifying offer, thus becoming afree agent.[69]
Kimbrel did not sign with any teams during the off-season, remaining a free agent into the 2019 season.[70]
On June 7, 2019, Kimbrel signed with theChicago Cubs on a three-year contract, reportedly worth $43 million.[71] On June 27, he was added to the Cubs' major league roster from the Triple-AIowa Cubs,[72] and recorded his first save of the season, against Atlanta.[73] On August 5, 2019, he was placed on IL for a knee inflammation.[74] On August 18, 2019, he was reactivated from the IL to help the Cubs beleaguered bullpen.[75] He finished the year 0–4 with 13 saves and a 6.53 ERA in 23 games.[38]
In thepandemic-shortened 2020 season, Kimbrel went 0–1 with a 5.28 ERA and recorded 28 strikeouts and 12 walks in15+1⁄3 innings.[38]
On July 30, 2021, the Cubs traded Kimbrel to theChicago White Sox in exchange forNick Madrigal andCodi Heuer.[78] Out of the closer role, Kimbrel had a 5.09 ERA in 24 regular season games and a 9.00 ERA in three playoff games for the White Sox. On November 22, the White Sox exercised his $16 million option for the 2022 season.[79]
On April 1, 2022, the White Sox traded Kimbrel to theLos Angeles Dodgers in exchange forA. J. Pollock.[80] He pitched in 63 games for the Dodgers and finished with a 6–7 record, 3.75 ERA and 22 saves.[38] However, by the end of the season he had been removed from the closer role.[81]
On January 4, 2023, Kimbrel signed a one-year, $10 million contract with thePhiladelphia Phillies.[82] He recorded his 400th career save on May 26, 2023, against the Atlanta Braves.[83] In June, he pitched 13 innings in as many appearances, allowing only 1 run on 6 hits with 21 strikeouts and 5 saves, good for a 0.69 ERA, earning him NL Reliever of the Month honors.
In the2023 National League Championship Series, Kimbrel was the losing pitcher in Games 3 and 4. In Game 3, he gave up a walk-off single toKetel Marte in the bottom of the ninth inning, and in Game 4, he blew a two-run lead in the 8th inning and gave up three runs, including a two-run home run toAlek Thomas. He became the first Phillies pitcher to lose back-to-back appearances in the playoffs sinceMitch Williams in the1993 World Series.[84] He became a free agent after the season.
On December 6, 2023, theBaltimore Orioles signed Kimbrel on a one-year, $13 million deal with a club option for the 2025 season.[85][86] He made 57 appearances for Baltimore in 2024, compiling a 7–5 record and 5.33 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 23 saves. Kimbrel wasdesignated for assignment on September 18, 2024, a day after he allowed six runs in the ninth inning against theSan Francisco Giants.[87][88] He was released by the Orioles organization on September 24.[89][90]
On March 19, 2025, Kimbrel signed a minor league contract to return to theAtlanta Braves organization.[91] In 18 appearances split between the Double-AColumbus Clingstones and Triple-AGwinnett Stripers, he accumulated a 1–1 record and 2.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts and three saves over 18 innings pitched. On June 6, the Braves selected Kimbrel's contract, adding him to their active roster.[92] He pitched the seventh inning of that night's game against theSan Francisco Giants.[93] The next day, Kimbrel was designated for assignment.[94][95] He elected free agency on June 9.[96]
On June 10, 2025, Kimbrel signed a minor league contract with theTexas Rangers.[97] In 24 appearances for the Triple-ARound Rock Express, he tallied an 0–1 record and 3.86 ERA with 28 strikeouts and five saves over 21 innings of work. Kimbrel was released by the Rangers organization on August 21.[98]
On August 22, 2025, Kimbrel signed a major league contract with theHouston Astros.[99] He appeared in 13 games with Astros, going 0–1 with a 2.45 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 11 innings of work. He did not record a save, as the Astros usedJosh Hader andBryan Abreu as closers in 2025.
Kimbrel was named the closer forTeam USA in the2013 World Baseball Classic. Despite not surrendering one lead-off double all year with the Braves in 2012, Kimbrel gave one up toNelson Cruz of theDominican Republic in their round two matchup. Kimbrel would go on to give up two runs in the game, and be the losing pitcher in Team USA's 3–1 loss to the eventual champions.[100][101][102]
Kimbrel uses a combination of afour-seam fastball and a powercurveball to getouts.[103][104] His fastball averages 97–98 miles per hour (156–158 km/h) and occasionally tops out at 101 miles per hour (163 km/h).[105] His curve, thrown with a "spike" grip, stays in the mid-to-upper 80s. Thewhiff rate of his four-seamer is 33%, and the curve is at 52%.[106] This combination contributes to a careerstrikeouts per nine innings rate of 14.7 (as of 10 October 2018[update]).[107] He is also tied for third among all pitchers from 2002 to 2012 in the highest percentage of pitches that resulted in swinging strikes.[108]
Kimbrel's four-seam fastball was the 12th-fastest among Major League relievers in the 2011 season. In addition, he threw the hardest curveball, averaging 87 miles per hour (140 km/h). His fastball had the fifth-highest whiff rate among relief pitchers (32%), and he also had the highest whiff rate of any reliever's curveball, at better than 55%.[109] His pre-pitch stance has also been widely noted and has been dubbed "Kimbreling" or "Spider Arms".[104][110]
Kimbrel has two brothers, Alan and Matt.[111] Matt Kimbrel played baseball in the Braves minor league system for three seasons before being released.[112][113]
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