Craig Kimbrel already has a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox but just earned what could be his final MLB job.
And a full-circle one at that.
The Atlanta Braves, who Boston earned a series win against to end May, collapsed after blowing a six-run lead in the ninth inning Thursday to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Atlanta fell in an 11-10 final, which forced a knee-jerk move to add to the bullpen.
The Braves immediately made the move to call up Kimbrel from Triple-A Gwinnett, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. The veteran closer posted a 2.45 ERA in Triple-A across 15 outings with three saves and 10.4 strikeout-per-nine.
Kimbrel sits fifth on baseball’s all-time saves list with 440 and trails another former Red Sox closer in Los Angeles Angels right-hander Kenley Jansen for fourth place. Kimbrel returns to his original team with the Braves, who he took home National League Rookie of the Year honors with in 2011.
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Kimbrel played for eight different MLB teams, including three years with the Red Sox to the tune of a 2.44 ERA and 108 saves. Kimbrel won the World Series with Boston in 2018 and recorded the final outs in both the American League Division Series over the New York Yankees and the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.
Featured image via Tommy Gilligan/Imagn Images
