Craig Kimbrel

Craig Kimbrel
Atlanta Braves — No. 46
Relief pitcher
Born: May 28, 1988 (1988-05-28) (age 23) Huntsville, Alabama
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 7, 2010 for the Atlanta Braves
Career statistics (through September 24, 2011)
Win–loss record	8–3
Earned run average	1.67
Strikeouts	166
Saves	47
Teams
Atlanta Braves (2010–present)
Career highlights and awards
2011 NL Rookie of the Year All-Star (2011) MLB Delivery Man of the Month Award (August 2011) Players Choice Awards 2011 NL Outstanding Rookie Sporting News 2011 NL Rookie of the Year Award USA Today 2011 NL Top Rookie Baseball Prospectus Internet Baseball Awards 2011 NL Rookie of the Year

Craig Michael Kimbrel (born May 28, 1988, in Huntsville, Alabama) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. Breaking the record for saves by a rookie in the 2011 season, Kimbrel was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award for the National League.

Career

Kimbrel was drafted by the Braves in the 33rd round of the 2007 draft, but elected to remain at Wallace State Community College in order to improve his draft position. He was then taken by the Braves in the third round of the 2008 draft, and was the 96th player chosen.^[1]

2010

Kimbrel got his first call up from Gwinnett on May 5, 2010, to replace the injured Jair Jurrjens on the roster.^[2] He was called up for the second time in his career on June 4, 2010, to replace Takashi Saito, who was placed on the 15-day DL.^[3] He earned his first major league save on September 19, 2010 against the New York Mets. Kimbrel's record for the 2010 season was 4–0, with one save and a 0.44 ERA in 20 2/3 innings. He recorded 40 strikeouts and 16 walks.^[1] In the 2010 playoffs, he shut down the eventual World Champion San Francisco Giants on several occasions; he had 7 strikeouts in a total of 4 1/3 innings, appearing in all 4 games of the NLDS between the Giants and the Braves.

2011

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 the New York Mets, Kimbrel passed the record for most saves by a National League rookie before the All-Star break.^[4] He is the fastest Braves pitcher to reach 100 career strikeouts, doing so in 59 1/3 career innings. His new record surpassed the previous record set by John Rocker in the 1998–1999 season, where it took Rocker 70 career innings to reach the 100 career strikeout mark.^[5] On July 5, his 26th save matched Jonathan Papelbon's record for most saves by a rookie before the All-Star break.^[6] On July 7, Kimbrel's 27th save of the year against the Colorado Rockies broke Papelbon's record.^[7]

Kimbrel was selected to the 2011 All Star Game during his first full season in the majors. San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy choose Kimbrel as a replacement for Giants pitcher Matt Cain.

On July 22, 2011 in a game versus the Cincinnati Reds, Kimbrel broke the Braves rookie record for saves in a season (31).^[8]

On August 9, 2011 in a game versus the Florida Marlins, Kimbrel tied the National League rookie record for saves in a season (36 by Todd Worrell of the St. 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 of 30 2/3 innings without yielding a run.^[9][10] On August 23, 2011, Kimbrel recorded his 40th save, tying the rookie save record of Neftali Feliz. He subsequently broke this record with his 41st save on August 31 with two strike outs in a game against the Washington Nationals. At the time, he led the majors in saves and had not given up a run in his last 34 innings.^[11] The following night September 1, 2011, Kimbrel surpassed Cliff Lee's record of thirty four scoreless innings with thirty four 2/3 scoreless innings for the longest scoreless streak in the majors in 2011.^[12] The scoreless inning streak came to an end after 37 2/3 innings, on September 10, 2011.^[13]

He was named the NL Rookie of the Month and MLB Delivery Man of the Month for August 2011.^[14][15]

Kimbrel ended the season tied for the National League lead with 46 saves--shattering the previous rookie record of 40, set by (former Braves prospect) Neftali Feliz of the Texas Rangers in 2010--and led the Major Leagues with 127 strikeouts in 77 innings of relief.^[16]

On November 14, the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced the results of their 2011 National League Rookie of the Year vote; Craig Kimbrel received all 32 first-place ballots--the first unanimous selection since 2001 winner Albert 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^[17]--making the pair the first team-mates to take the top two spots since 1989, when the Chicago Cubs' Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith came in first and second in the balloting.^[18][19]. 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.^[20]

Baseball Writers' Association of America 2011 Rookie of the Year Voting Results
BBWAA awards five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote, and one point for each third-place vote^[21]

Player	Team	First	Second	Third	Total
Craig Kimbrel	Atlanta Braves	32			160
Freddie Freeman	Atlanta Braves		21	7	70
Vance Worley	Philadelphia Phillies		8	16	40
Wilson Ramos	Washington Nationals		1	3	6
Josh Collmenter	Arizona Diamondbacks		1	2	5
Danny Espinosa	Washington Nationals		1		3
Darwin Barney	Chicago Cubs			2	2
Kenley Jansen	Los Angeles Dodgers			2	2

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Braves closer took unusual path to role, Steve Hummer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 22, 2011.
2. ^ By Mark Bowman / MLB.com. "Strained left hamstring lands Jurrjens on DL | braves.com: News". Atlanta.braves.mlb.com. http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100505&content_id=9820222&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
3. ^ By Evan Drellich / MLB.com (June 5, 2010). "Kimbrel ready for second taste of bigs | braves.com: News". Atlanta.braves.mlb.com. http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100605&content_id=10840910&notebook_id=10852202&vkey=notebook_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
4. ^ Rogers, Carroll (June 3, 2011). "Jones, Hinske homers help Braves rally past Mets". ajc.com. http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/jones-hinske-homers-help-966757.html. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
5. ^ 10:54 pm June 28, 2011, by David O'Brien (June 28, 2011). "Kimbrel surpasses Rocker strikeout mark | Atlanta Braves". Blogs.ajc.com. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/06/28/kimbrel-surpasses-rocker-strikeout-mark/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
6. ^ O'Brien, David (July 5, 2011). "Lowe hits (3 RBIs), pitches Braves to win". ajc.com. http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/lowe-hits-3-rbis-1000881.html. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
7. ^ 7:56 pm July 7, 2011, by David O'Brien (July 7, 2011). "Kimbrel breaks first-half rookie saves record | Atlanta Braves". Blogs.ajc.com. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/07/07/kimbrel-breaks-first-half-rookie-saves-record/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
8. ^ 7:19 pm July 10, 2011, by Carroll Rogers (July 10, 2011). "Kimbrel named as replacement to NL All-Star team – updated | Atlanta Braves". Blogs.ajc.com. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/07/10/kimbrel-headed-to-all-star-game/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
9. ^ 6:28 pm August 21, 2011, by Carroll Rogers (August 21, 2011). "Braves postgame quotes following Sunday’s win over Arizona | Atlanta Braves". Blogs.ajc.com. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/08/21/braves-postgame-quotes-following-sundays-win-over-arizona/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
10. ^ 4:48 pm August 22, 2011, by David O'Brien (August 22, 2011). "Braves’ hitting turnaround is more than just Uggla | Atlanta Braves". Blogs.ajc.com. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/08/22/braves-hitting-turnaround-is-more-than-just-uggla/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
11. ^ O'Brien, David (September 1, 2011). "Derek Lowe homers, Craig Kimbrel gets record save". ajc.com. http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/derek-lowe-homers-craig-1153200.html. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
12. ^ O'Brien, David (September 2, 2011). "Jones, McCann homers send Braves to win". ajc.com. http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/jones-mccan-homers-send-1154024.html. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
13. ^ Kimbrel’s streak ends; Teheran likely to bullpen
14. ^ Chris Vivlamore (September 8, 2011). "Braves notes: Beachy gets strikeout mark | Atlanta Braves". Blogs.ajc.com. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/09/08/braves-notes-beachy-gets-strikeout-mark/. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
15. ^ "Craig Kimbrel named winner of the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award for August" (Press release). MLB.com. September 8, 2011. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110908&content_id=24404076&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
16. ^ [1]
17. ^ [2]
18. ^ Kimbrel, Hellickson take top rookie awards
19. ^ Kimbrel wins NL Rookie of Year, Freeman runner-up
20. ^ [3]
21. ^ [4]

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Persondata
Name	Kimbrel, Craig
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 28, 1988
Place of birth	Huntsville, Alabama
Date of death
Place of death