{"id":45311,"date":"2025-03-31T00:59:26","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T00:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=45311"},"modified":"2025-03-31T00:59:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T00:59:26","slug":"breaking-craig-kimbrel-nearing-braves-return-after-latest-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=45311","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Craig Kimbrel nearing Braves return after latest step"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Craig Kimbrel could be back on the mound for the Braves very soon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Craig<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The nine-time All-Star, Craig Kimbrel, might be one step closer to suiting up for the Atlanta Braves again. Kimbrel\u00a0threw live batting practice earlier this week, continuing to build up his arm strength as he attempts to make a return to the major leagues. Now on a minor league deal with the Braves, Kimbrel is expected to remain at the team\u2019s spring training site before eventually joining Triple-A Gwinnett.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be awesome if he can come in and do that,\u201d Braves manager Brian Snitker said. \u201cIt\u2019ll be good to see him. God, I loved Craig.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Kimbrel, 36, this comeback is about more than just nostalgia. After being released by the Baltimore Orioles late last season following a brutal stretch, Kimbrel is hoping to prove there\u2019s still something left in the tank. From April through early July last season, he was dominant\u2014posting a 2.10 ERA and holding hitters to a .147 batting average in 38 appearances. But a second-half collapse, due in part to back issues, derailed what could have been another strong season.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know the end of last year was a little tough,\u201d Kimbrel admitted. \u201cBut I was trying. I mean, I was battling. I was trying to stay out there, and it wasn\u2019t working out for me for many reasons. But I think I got those reasons taken care of, and I feel pretty good about getting the ball and getting back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Craig Kimbrel looking to get healthy for the Braves<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Daniel Shirey-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Braves, of course, know what a healthy Kimbrel can offer. Drafted by Atlanta in 2008, he debuted in 2010 and quickly became one of the league\u2019s most dominant closers, leading the National League in saves for four consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2014. He posted a career-best 1.01 ERA in 2012 and remains fifth all-time with 440 saves.<\/p>\n

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Related Atlanta Braves NewsArticle continues below<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Kimbrel was still an All-Star as recently as 2023 with the Phillies, and even if his fastball velocity has dipped from his high-90s peak, he believes his stuff is still effective when he\u2019s right physically.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not throwing 100, but my stuff\u2019s still there,\u201d Kimbrel said. \u201cAs soon as I start trying to do more and trying to use my arm, it\u2019s no good. But when my lower half is working, everything else follows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Atlanta enters the season with Raisel Iglesias as the established closer, but there\u2019s room for more experienced arms in the bullpen, especially one with Kimbrel\u2019s pedigree. The Braves recently released lefty Jake Diekman and continue to evaluate their depth options.<\/p>\n

For now, Kimbrel will treat the next few weeks like his spring training, aiming to be ready should the Braves call on him. And if all goes well, Dirty Craig could be back on a major league mound\u2014this time in a familiar uniform\u2014before long.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnytime you can add a bullet like that to your bullpen, a guy with that experience,\u201d Snitker said, \u201cthat\u2019d be awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the 2025 season in full swing, Braves RP Craig Kimbrel is throwing live BP as he continues to rehab an injury.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":45312,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[71,1263,44,694],"class_list":["post-45311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-atlanta-braves","tag-craig-kimbrel","tag-mlb","tag-mlb-injury"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING: Craig Kimbrel nearing Braves return after latest step - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=45311\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING: Craig Kimbrel nearing Braves return after latest step - 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