Astros Sign Craig Kimbrel Who Has Fuel Left in the Tank

On Thursday evening the Texas Rangers released Craig Kimbrel from his minor league contract. The Houston Astros are apparently signing the veteran reliever to a major league deal.

In the history of the game, there have been roughly 21,000 baseball players put on a major league uniform. There have been millions of others who have played in some form or fashion, from tee ball and Little League all the way to college and independent baseball.

Only a small few can be identified by a simple silhouette. Craig Kimbrel is one of those guys. His “Kimbreling” pose is recognizable by anyone who has followed his 16-year career.

In regard to the pose, Kimbrel had this to say when I sat down with him in Round Rock late last week, “Early on in my career, I always said that if guys were worried about that (the arm pose) they were already out.”

Visiting with the potential Hall of Famer was quite enjoyable. He was both what people might expect from a career closer that currently sits 5th all-time in saves with 440, but also had a great perspective on life and what is important.

The numbers of the game of baseball tell a large part of the narrative, but each and every player is an individual with a story of their own. Kimbrel is no different.

His story now takes him to Houston where he will look to prove himself worthy of a roster spot come playoff time. I can tell you that the guy still has a fire burning to compete at the highest level.

Kimbrel’s HOF Type Numbers

Few players have recorded more saves than Craig Kimbrel in major league history. Four to be exact. That is some truly rarified air that he keeps within the legends of the game.

Closers not named Mariano Rivera tend to have somewhat of a difficult time staking a sure enough claim on a Hall of Fame spot. I didn’t discuss the HOF with Kimbrel, quite frankly, because at the time he was solely focused on the job at hand, which is to make it back to the major leagues.

But with the induction of fellow closer Billy Wagner this July, that is sure to add to the case for Kimbrel to someday have his own plaque in Cooperstown. How fitting is it for him to go to Wagner’s longtime team for his next chapter in his career?

Wagner might have put it best when talking about closers in an interview with Brian Kenny on the MLB Network when he stated, “Nobody needs a closer until you need a closer.”

That is so true. And Kimbrel has been one of the best in the business for a long time. His accolades are lengthy. Rookie of the Year, nine-time All-Star, Reliever of the Year three times, and 2018 World Series Champion, just to name the highlights.

He was an All-Star as recently as 2023 and finished 4th in the Cy Young voting in 2013 and was 8th in the MVP race in 2012. Kimbrel’s career numbers are outstanding.

Over 810.2 innings pitched, he has 440 saves, a 2.59 ERA, a 1.015 WHIP, and 1,266 strikeouts—Kimbrel’s 14.06 K/9 ranks 5th all-time.

Battling in the Minors

After a rough ending to the 2023 playoffs while pitching for the Phillies, Kimbrel struggled at times last season with the Orioles. That left the veteran closer on the outside looking in and needing to prove himself still worthy of a spot in a big league bullpen.

Some time in the Braves’ minor leagues earned him a call-up to Atlanta. Unfortunately, it was short-lived, and the Braves would end up DFAing him after only one inning of solid work.

The Rangers saw a chance to sign the veteran to a minor league contract. The move was one with little risk and potential high reward. “I’ve made the best of it, obviously, I would like to be pitching at the next level,” Kimbrel told me.

Kimbrel has been solid over his time in the minors this year. With both Atlanta and Texas minor league affiliates, he has pitched 39 innings, has a 3.00 ERA, a 1.051 WHIP, and has eight saves.

His time with Round Rock hasn’t been quite as great results-wise, due mainly to the four home runs that he has given up in the notoriously hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. For Round Rock, Kimbrel has thrown 21 innings, has a 3.86 ERA, a 1.143 WHIP, and has five saves. His most recent one coming Wednesday night.

When Kimbrel showed up in Round Rock, his fastball was sitting 91-92 mph. Now he is more like 92-93 mph and has touched 94 mph.

It’s not the velocity that he had for the majority of his career, but he still has plenty of tools in the toolbox to be effective.

“I am going to continue to get stronger and more refined, so when that opportunity comes (to pitch in the big leagues again) it is the best version of me,” Kimbrel said. And strong he is. He looks like a linebacker and is in great shape.

That hard work has paid off and the next level that Kimbrel spoke of is exactly where he is heading.

Texas Two-Step

Unfortunately for Rangers fans wanting to see Kimbrel in a Texas jersey, the team hasn’t been able to hold up its end of the deal. As they slip further and further out of contention, it was becoming clear that a 40-man roster move and call-up to Arlington probably wasn’t going to be in the cards.

The Astros on the other hand are squarely in the middle of the AL West division race. Leading the division by two games Houston is in need of some assistance in the bullpen.

Josh Hader is out for the remainder of the regular season with a strained shoulder. It is uncertain what role within the bullpen that Kimbrel will have, but his leadership qualities alone will be beneficial to the Astros.

What Motivates Kimbrel

At this stage in his life, it would have been easy for Kimbrel to hang up the cleats and call it a career. But the veteran feels he still has the ability to get major league hitters out.

“I obviously would like to be pitching at the next level and getting outs there, which I believe I still can do, and do pretty well,” said Kimbrel. His mental game and focus is that of a competitor that will continue to have success in the bigs.

Kimbrel’s faith and perspective has allowed him to grow into a more focused and well rounded athlete. Maturity is not guaranteed with age, but Kimbrel as grown both spiritually, mentally, and physically.

“There are things that we make the most important things in life, and they are not actually that. Not to say that they are not important. I mean, God puts important things in the world for us to take care of. But nothing is as important as Him. I think that’s the kind of reminder, I guess, the comfort that can come in having faith and performing at the same time.”

His family is also extremely important to him. Kimbrel and his wife Ashley went through some scary heart issues with their seven year old daughter when she was born. She is now doing great and likes to remind them everyday that she is seven and will be eight on her next birthday.

One of Kimbrel’s favorite things is to bring his son (3) to the ballpark and let him run around and play. “It’s one of the reasons I still enjoy this,” he told me.

Make no mistake that Craig Kimbrel still has the fierce competitor inside of him that he has had throughout his baseball career. Major League Baseball is better with Kimbrel being a part of it.