When the Atlanta Braves signed veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to a minor-league deal on April 14, fans were thrilled. But the deal came with no promise of a big-league return. Kimbrel is coming off a rocky 2023 season with the Orioles, where he posted a 5.33 ERA across 57 appearances. His struggles were especially apparent in the second half, when he put up an 11.50 ERA and a 7.44 FIP after July 14. Still, a strong first half (2.10 ERA, 2.47 FIP) left hope that he might still have something left in the tank.
At the time, the Braves’ bullpen was floundering, making Kimbrel’s signing feel like a potential lifeline. However, Atlanta’s relievers have turned things around since then which may explain why Kimbrel hasn’t yet been called up, despite performing well in the minors.
Kimbrel began his comeback at Double-A Columbus, where he dominated with eight strikeouts and no hits allowed over three appearances. That earned him a promotion to Triple-A Gwinnett. Initially, his fastball velocity was concerning, sitting at just 90–91 mph far from the heat he used to bring.
As expected, the dip in velocity affected his effectiveness, and his strikeout rate declined. But recently, things have turned around. His ERA with Gwinnett is now down to 2.35, and his fastball has ticked back up, hitting 95 mph.
With those improvements, a return to Atlanta seems more likely than ever. Through 11 appearances in the minors, Kimbrel owns a 1.64 ERA and is striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings. His return seems less like an “if” and more like a “when.”
The timing, however, depends on the current state of Atlanta’s bullpen. Most relievers aside from Raisel Iglesias are performing well right now, and Kimbrel isn’t expected to step into a closer’s role again. Still, he could be a valuable middle-to-late-inning arm.
While he may not be the dominant force he once was, Kimbrel could still offer meaningful contributions to the Braves and that opportunity may be coming soon.
