All you need to know about the special achievement of Craig Kimbrel that he achieved against the Atlanta Braves.
The most recent person to join the exclusive 400-save club is Craig Kimbrel. On Friday night at Truist Park, the current closer for the Philadelphia Phillies and former closer for the Atlanta Braves threw a scoreless ninth inning as part of Philadelphia’s victory over Atlanta (PHI 6, ATL 4), making him the eighth member of the 400-save club.
Earlier on in the current season, Kenley Jansen made his career-high 400th save at Truist Park. He played for the Braves in the past, just like Kimbrel did. The Atlanta Braves were Kimbrel’s first team in Major League Baseball when he debuted there.
This is Kimbrel’s first season playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2008, the Braves were the team that selected him in the draught, and he made his debut in the major leagues with the Braves in 2010. With 155 saves, Kimbrel surpassed John Smoltz to become the all-time leader for the Braves. This accomplishment occurred in 2014. After his career with the Braves was over, he had 186 saves, which was his most with any team.
On Opening Day in 2015, the Braves parted ways with Kimbrel via a trade. He first played for the Braves from 2010 to 2014 before moving on to the San Diego Padres in 2015, the Boston Red Sox in 2016, the Chicago Cubs in 2019, the Chicago White Sox in 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022, and finally the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019. Kimbrel has made saves for seven different teams over the course of his career.
Craig Kimbrel was drafted into Major League Baseball (MLB) in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He was selected by the Atlanta Braves as the 96th overall pick. This marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that would establish him as one of the most dominant closers in the game.
Prior to being drafted, Kimbrel attended Lee High School in Huntsville, Alabama. His exceptional talent on the mound drew attention from scouts, and his fastball consistently touched high velocity. Despite being undersized for a pitcher, standing at only 5’11” tall, Kimbrel’s fierce competitiveness and electric stuff made him an intriguing prospect.
After being drafted, Kimbrel quickly worked his way through the Braves minor league system, showcasing his immense potential. His ability to generate strikeouts at an astonishing rate was evident, and it became clear that he possessed the tools to excel at the highest level.
Kimbrel made his MLB debut on May 7, 2010, for the Atlanta Braves. Although he initially served as a setup man, his dominance was undeniable. In his rookie season, Kimbrel set the record for most saves by a rookie with 46, earning him the National League Rookie of the Year Award. This remarkable achievement signaled the arrival of a new force in the realm of closers.
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