Craig Kimbrel
Born: 5/28/1988 in Huntsville, AL, USA
MLB Debut: 2010-05-07
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 215 lbs
Full name: Craig Michael Kimbrel
Biography
Craig Kimbrel, born in 1988, is an active Major League Baseball pitcher known for his dominant presence on the mound since making his debut in 2010. With a career record of 56-47 and an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 2.59, Kimbrel has established himself as one of the premier closers of his generation. He has recorded 1,265 strikeouts and amassed 440 saves, showcasing his ability to consistently perform under pressure and secure victories for his teams. His power fastball and devastating curveball have made him a formidable opponent for hitters, and his unique pitching style is characterized by an intense delivery and a high strikeout rate.
Kimbrel's accolades include being recognized as the MLB Players Choice Outstanding Rookie, Rookie of the Month on multiple occasions, and earning the Rookie of the Year award, along with the This Year in Baseball Rookie of the Year honor. His nine All-Star selections reflect his sustained excellence and impact on the game. As a key figure in modern baseball, Kimbrel continues to influence the role of the closer in the ever-evolving landscape of the sport, contributing to his team's success while leaving a lasting legacy in professional baseball.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | 47 | 837 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 440 | 809.7 | 482 | 233 | 73 | 339 | 1265 | 2.59 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ATL | NL | 4 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20.7 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 40 | 0.44 | 1322.7 |
| 2011 | ATL | NL | 4 | 3 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 77.0 | 48 | 18 | 32 | 127 | 2.10 | 4739.2 |
| 2012 | ATL | NL | 3 | 1 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 62.7 | 27 | 7 | 14 | 116 | 1.01 | 5131.5 |
| 2013 | ATL | NL | 4 | 3 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 67.0 | 39 | 9 | 20 | 98 | 1.21 | 3289.2 |
| 2014 | ATL | NL | 0 | 3 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 61.7 | 30 | 11 | 26 | 95 | 1.61 | 2975.2 |
| 2015 | SDP | NL | 4 | 2 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 59.3 | 40 | 17 | 22 | 87 | 2.58 | - |
| 2016 | BOS | AL | 2 | 6 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 53.0 | 28 | 20 | 30 | 83 | 3.40 | 1700.8 |
| 2017 | BOS | AL | 5 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 69.0 | 33 | 11 | 14 | 126 | 1.43 | 5142.6 |
| 2018 | BOS | AL | 5 | 1 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 62.3 | 31 | 19 | 31 | 96 | 2.74 | 1610.4 |
| 2019 | CHC | NL | 0 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 20.7 | 21 | 15 | 12 | 30 | 6.53 | - |
| 2020 | CHC | NL | 0 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15.3 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 28 | 5.28 | - |
| 2021 | CHW | AL | 2 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23.0 | 18 | 13 | 10 | 36 | 5.09 | - |
| 2021 | CHC | NL | 2 | 3 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 36.7 | 13 | 2 | 13 | 64 | 0.49 | - |
| 2022 | LAD | NL | 6 | 7 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 60.0 | 51 | 25 | 28 | 72 | 3.75 | - |
| 2023 | PHI | NL | 8 | 6 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 69.0 | 44 | 25 | 28 | 94 | 3.26 | 920.1 |
| 2024 | BAL | AL | 7 | 5 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 52.3 | 40 | 31 | 31 | 73 | 5.33 | -133.7 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 837 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ATL | NL | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2011 | ATL | NL | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2012 | ATL | NL | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2013 | ATL | NL | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2014 | ATL | NL | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | SDP | NL | 61 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2016 | BOS | AL | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | BOS | AL | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2018 | BOS | AL | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | CHC | NL | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | CHC | NL | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | CHW | AL | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | CHC | NL | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2022 | LAD | NL | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2023 | PHI | NL | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2024 | BAL | AL | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | NLCS | PHI | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2023 | NLDS1 | PHI | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2023 | NLWC2 | PHI | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2021 | ALDS1 | CHA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2020 | NLWC3 | CHN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2018 | ALCS | BOS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2018 | ALDS1 | BOS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2018 | WS | BOS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2017 | ALDS2 | BOS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2016 | ALDS2 | BOS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2013 | NLDS2 | ATL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2012 | NLWC | ATL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2010 | NLDS2 | ATL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3 | 30 | 0 | 10 | 30.0 | 23 | 15 | 20 | 32 | 4.50 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | NLCS | PHI | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3.0 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12.00 |
| 2023 | NLDS1 | PHI | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 |
| 2023 | NLWC2 | PHI | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 2021 | ALDS1 | CHA | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9.00 |
| 2020 | NLWC3 | CHN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.00 |
| 2018 | ALCS | BOS | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4.0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4.50 |
| 2018 | ALDS1 | BOS | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2.3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11.57 |
| 2018 | WS | BOS | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4.3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4.15 |
| 2017 | ALDS2 | BOS | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4.50 |
| 2016 | ALDS2 | BOS | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 |
| 2013 | NLDS2 | ATL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.00 |
| 2012 | NLWC | ATL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| 2010 | NLDS2 | ATL | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4.3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2.08 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 837 | 0 | 33 | 45 | 4 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ATL | P | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | ATL | P | 79 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | ATL | P | 63 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | ATL | P | 68 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | ATL | P | 63 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | SDN | P | 61 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 | BOS | P | 57 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | BOS | P | 67 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | BOS | P | 63 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | CHN | P | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | CHN | P | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | CHA | P | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | CHN | P | 39 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | LAN | P | 63 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | P | 71 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | BAL | P | 57 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 837 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Reliever of the Month | June |
| 2017 | Reliever of the Month | May |
| 2017 | Reliever of the Year Award | |
| 2017 | TSN All-Star | RP |
| 2017 | TSN Reliever of the Year | |
| 2014 | Reliever of the Year Award | |
| 2013 | Reliever of the Month | August |
| 2013 | This Year in Baseball Closer of the Year | MLB.com GIBBY |
| 2012 | Reliever of the Month | September |
| 2012 | Reliever of the Year Award | |
| 2011 | MLB Players Choice Outstanding Rookie | |
| 2011 | Reliever of the Month | August |
| 2011 | Rookie of the Month | August |
| 2011 | Rookie of the Month | June |
| 2011 | Rookie of the Year | |
| 2011 | This Year in Baseball Rookie of the Year | MLB.com GIBBY |
| 2011 | TSN Rookie of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | BOS | AL | $11,000,000 |
| 2015 | SDN | NL | $9,000,000 |
| 2014 | ATL | NL | $7,000,000 |
| 2013 | ATL | NL | $655,000 |
| 2012 | ATL | NL | $590,000 |
| 2011 | ATL | NL | $419,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $28,664,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Cy Young Award | AL | 6th | 27.0 | 210 | 0 |
| 2014 | Cy Young Award | NL | 9th | 3.0 | 210 | 0 |
| 2013 | Cy Young Award | NL | 4th | 39.0 | 210 | 0 |
| 2013 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 27.0 | 420 | 0 |
| 2012 | Cy Young Award | NL | 5th | 41.0 | 224 | 1 |
| 2012 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 8th | 73.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2011 | Cy Young Award | NL | 9th | 2.0 | 224 | 0 |
| 2011 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 23th | 1.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2011 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 1st | 160.0 | 160 | 32 |