The Craig Kimbrel waiting game continues, as he stars in Gwinnett

Nobody quite knew what to expect when the Braves signed nine-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to a minor-league contract. The deal came with no guarantees, and he was coming off a dreadful second-half with the Baltimore Orioles, one in which he recorded an 11.50 ERA over his last 19 appearances.

The days of Craig Kimbrel closing games are in the rearview mirror, at least they should be. So, for those hoping he might replace Raisel Iglesias, I will remind you that the year is 2025, not 2015. Kimbrel’s fastball isn’t anywhere close to what it used to be, but he can still punch guys out in bunches and has had a lot of success in spurts over the last two seasons.

Prior to his second half collapse with the Orioles, Kimbrel posted a 2.10 ERA and 2.00 FIP over 38 appearances in the first half of the year. He was also an All-Star in 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies, and so far in 2025, he’s been dominant on the farm.

While early appearances raised concerns about his velocity, Kimbrel’s fastball has recently ticked back up into the 94–95 MPH range — right in line with where it sat during his most effective outings last season. In 14 games across Double-A and Triple-A, he’s posted a 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and struck out 17 over 14 innings.

Those are elite numbers — regardless of the level — and when you combine that with his pedigree, it’s hard to justify leaving him in Gwinnett while the Braves’ bullpen continues to falter. Atlanta’s relievers have been wildly inconsistent, with the recent series against the Red Sox serving as just the latest example.

At this point, it just feels like a waiting game. Clearly, the Braves aren’t ready to permanently cut bait with any members of their current bullpen, but I’m not sure how much sense it makes having Craig Kimbrel waste away in Gwinnett while the major-league club struggles to piece things together consistently at the end of games.