Braves Announce Major Roster Decision Amid Craig Kimbrel News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jun 7, 2025 2:31 PM ET

The Atlanta Braves enter Saturday’s game in San Francisco after suffering a brutal skid, having dropped five straight and nine of their last 11 games.

Into this turbulent backdrop came Craig Kimbrel, the veteran closer whose career began in Atlanta with a record-setting rookie season in 2011.

A nine-time All-Star, four-time National League saves leader (2011-14), 2011 NL Rookie of the Year and 2018 World Series champion, Kimbrel amassed 440 career saves and a 2.59 ERA over 15 seasons before signing a minor-league deal with the Braves on March 19.

After dominating 18 innings in the minors with a 2.00 ERA and 23 strikeouts, Atlanta selected Kimbrel’s contract on Friday.

He then delivered a scoreless seventh inning against San Francisco, yielding one hit, one walk, picking off Jung Hoo Lee and striking out a batter on 14 pitches.

Yet less than 24 hours later, the Braves designated him for assignment, recalling left-hander Austin Cox from Triple-A Gwinnett to take his roster spot.

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Cox is a 28-year-old left-handed reliever from Macon, Georgia, drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the 2018 draft.

He made his MLB debut in 2023 with Kansas City, logging a 4.54 ERA, 33 strikeouts and a 1.26 WHIP over 35 2/3 innings.

After a solid Triple-A showing in 2024 and 2025 (3.86 ERA, 91 strikeouts), Cox signed a minor-league deal in January and has now been recalled to bolster the Braves’ bullpen depth.

Atlanta was swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres to open the year 0-7, its worst start since 2016.

The Braves bounced back and were above .500 by May 16 at 23-22, making them the fastest team since the 1945 Boston Red Sox to recover from such a start. But the club has lost that momentum, settling into fourth place in the National League East at 27-35, 12 games behind the first-place New York Mets.

Kimbrel’s brief return offered only a nostalgic glimpse of his prime, but the Braves appear committed to giving younger options, like Cox, a chance.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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