Who is Craig Kimbrel?
Craig Kimbrel is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.
Kimbrel is a six-time MLB All-Star and a four-time MLB saves leader. He has also been named to the MLB All-Star Game seven times and is a two-time MLB wins leader. Kimbrel is known for his high strikeout rate and his ability to close out games.
Kimbrel was born in Huntsville, Alabama. He attended Lee High School in Huntsville, where he played baseball and football. After graduating from high school, Kimbrel attended Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama, where he played baseball for two years. In 2008, Kimbrel was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 33rd round of the MLB draft.
Kimbrel made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2010. He quickly became one of the most dominant closers in the league, leading the MLB in saves in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2015, Kimbrel was traded to the Padres. He spent two seasons with the Padres before being traded to the White Sox in 2016.
Kimbrel spent one season with the White Sox before being traded to the Phillies in 2017. He spent two seasons with the Phillies before signing with the Dodgers in 2019.
Kimbrel is one of the most successful closers in MLB history. He has a career record of 39-35 with a 2.18 ERA and 381 saves.
Craig Kimbrel
Craig Kimbrel is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a six-time MLB All-Star and a four-time MLB saves leader.
- Pitcher
- Closer
- Strikeouts
- Saves
- All-Star
- World Series champion
Kimbrel is one of the most successful closers in MLB history. He has a career record of 39-35 with a 2.18 ERA and 381 saves. He has also been named to the MLB All-Star Game seven times and is a two-time MLB wins leader. Kimbrel is known for his high strikeout rate and his ability to close out games.
1. Pitcher
A pitcher is a baseball player who throws the ball to the batter. Pitchers are responsible for preventing the batter from hitting the ball and getting on base. They do this by throwing a variety of pitches, each with its own unique movement and speed.
Craig Kimbrel is one of the most successful pitchers in Major League Baseball. He is a six-time All-Star and a four-time saves leader. Kimbrel is known for his high strikeout rate and his ability to close out games.
Kimbrel's success as a pitcher is due in large part to his unique pitching style. He throws a variety of pitches, including a fastball, a slider, and a changeup. His fastball is one of the hardest in the league, and his slider is one of the most effective. Kimbrel is also a master of deception. He is able to change the speed and movement of his pitches at will, which makes it difficult for batters to hit him.
Kimbrel's success as a pitcher has been a major factor in the success of the Dodgers in recent years. He has been a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen, and he has helped them win two World Series championships.
2. Closer
A closer is a relief pitcher who is used to finish a game. Closers are typically brought into the game in the ninth inning, with the goal of securing the save. They are usually the most experienced and reliable pitchers on the team, and they are expected to be able to throw strikes and get outs in high-pressure situations.
Craig Kimbrel is one of the most successful closers in Major League Baseball history. He has been named to the All-Star team seven times, and he has led the league in saves four times. Kimbrel is known for his high strikeout rate and his ability to close out games.
Kimbrel's success as a closer is due in large part to his unique pitching style. He throws a variety of pitches, including a fastball, a slider, and a changeup. His fastball is one of the hardest in the league, and his slider is one of the most effective. Kimbrel is also a master of deception. He is able to change the speed and movement of his pitches at will, which makes it difficult for batters to hit him.
Kimbrel's success as a closer has been a major factor in the success of the Dodgers in recent years. He has been a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen, and he has helped them win two World Series championships.
3. Strikeouts
Strikeouts are a key part of Craig Kimbrel's success as a pitcher. He has one of the highest strikeout rates in Major League Baseball, and he is able to strike out batters with a variety of pitches.
- Fastball
Kimbrel's fastball is one of the hardest in the league, and he uses it to blow batters away. He can also locate his fastball well, which makes it difficult for batters to hit.
- Slider
Kimbrel's slider is one of the most effective in the league. It has a sharp break, and it is difficult for batters to hit. Kimbrel can also throw his slider in different locations, which makes it even more difficult to hit.
- Changeup
Kimbrel's changeup is a relatively new pitch for him, but he has quickly become one of the best in the league. It has a lot of movement, and it is difficult for batters to pick up. Kimbrel can use his changeup to keep batters off balance and to get them to strike out.
- Deception
Kimbrel is also a master of deception. He is able to change the speed and movement of his pitches at will, which makes it difficult for batters to hit him. Kimbrel also uses a variety of arm angles and release points, which makes it even more difficult for batters to pick up his pitches.
Kimbrel's ability to strike out batters is a major reason why he is one of the best closers in Major League Baseball. He is able to get outs when his team needs them most, and he is a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen.
4. Saves
In baseball, a save is credited to a relief pitcher who enters the game with a lead of three runs or less and retires at least three batters without allowing the tying run to score. Saves are a key statistic for closers, who are typically brought into the game in the ninth inning to protect a lead.
Craig Kimbrel is one of the most successful closers in Major League Baseball history. He has led the league in saves four times, and he has been named to the All-Star team seven times. Kimbrel's success is due in large part to his ability to get saves.
Kimbrel has a career save percentage of 90.2%. This means that he has converted 90.2% of the save opportunities that he has been given. This is a remarkable statistic, and it is a testament to Kimbrel's ability to close out games.
Kimbrel's ability to get saves has been a major factor in the success of the Dodgers in recent years. He has helped the Dodgers win two World Series championships, and he has been a key part of their bullpen.
5. All-Star
An All-Star is a player who is selected to play in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The All-Star Game is an annual exhibition game between the best players in the American League and the National League. Players are selected to the All-Star team by a combination of fan vote, player vote, and manager vote.
Craig Kimbrel has been selected to the All-Star team seven times, which is a testament to his status as one of the best closers in Major League Baseball. Kimbrel has been a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen in recent years, and he has helped them win two World Series championships.
Kimbrel's success as an All-Star is due in large part to his ability to get saves. He has a career save percentage of 90.2%, which is one of the highest in Major League Baseball history. Kimbrel is also a master of deception, and he is able to change the speed and movement of his pitches at will. This makes it difficult for batters to hit him, and it is a major reason why he is so successful as a closer.
Kimbrel's success as an All-Star is a reflection of his hard work and dedication. He is one of the most talented pitchers in Major League Baseball, and he is a key part of the Dodgers' success.
6. World Series champion
Craig Kimbrel has won two World Series championships with the Dodgers, in 2020 and 2022. He has been a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen in both of those seasons, and he has helped them to close out many important games.
- Relief pitcher
Kimbrel is a relief pitcher, which means that he comes into the game after the starting pitcher has left. He is typically used to pitch in high-pressure situations, such as when the game is close or when there are runners on base.
- Closer
Kimbrel is often used as a closer, which means that he is the last pitcher to enter the game. He is responsible for closing out the game and securing the win.
- Strikeouts
Kimbrel is a strikeout pitcher, which means that he gets a lot of batters to strike out. He has a career strikeout rate of 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
- Saves
Kimbrel has a career save percentage of 90.2%, which means that he has converted 90.2% of the save opportunities that he has been given.
Kimbrel's success as a World Series champion is due to his ability to get outs when his team needs them most. He is a master of deception, and he is able to change the speed and movement of his pitches at will. This makes it difficult for batters to hit him, and it is a major reason why he is so successful as a closer.
Craig Kimbrel FAQs
Craig Kimbrel is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a six-time MLB All-Star and a four-time MLB saves leader. Kimbrel is one of the most successful closers in MLB history.
Question 1: What is Craig Kimbrel's pitching style?
Kimbrel is a strikeout pitcher who throws a variety of pitches, including a fastball, a slider, and a changeup. He is known for his high strikeout rate and his ability to close out games.
Question 2: What are Craig Kimbrel's career accomplishments?
Kimbrel has a career record of 39-35 with a 2.18 ERA and 381 saves. He has been named to the MLB All-Star Game seven times and is a four-time MLB saves leader.
Question 3: What teams has Craig Kimbrel played for?
Kimbrel has played for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Question 4: What is Craig Kimbrel's role on the Dodgers?
Kimbrel is a closer for the Dodgers. He is responsible for closing out games and securing the win.
Question 5: What is Craig Kimbrel's nickname?
Kimbrel's nickname is "Kimbrel the Closer".
Summary: Craig Kimbrel is one of the most successful closers in MLB history. He is a six-time MLB All-Star and a four-time MLB saves leader. Kimbrel is known for his high strikeout rate and his ability to close out games.
Transition to the next article section: Craig Kimbrel is a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen, and he has helped them win two World Series championships.
Conclusion
Craig Kimbrel is one of the most successful closers in Major League Baseball history. He has been a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen in recent years, and he has helped them win two World Series championships. Kimbrel is a six-time All-Star and a four-time saves leader. He is known for his high strikeout rate and his ability to close out games.
Kimbrel's success is due to his unique pitching style. He throws a variety of pitches, including a fastball, a slider, and a changeup. He is also a master of deception, and he is able to change the speed and movement of his pitches at will. This makes it difficult for batters to hit him, and it is a major reason why he is so successful as a closer.
Kimbrel is a key part of the Dodgers' success, and he is one of the best closers in Major League Baseball. He is a valuable asset to any team, and he will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.