Craig KimbrelNYM · TBR · KCR · RP

2026 review

Craig Kimbrel pitched in relief for NYM, TBR and KCR: a 4.50 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 46.0 IP over 46 games, with a 20.4 K% and an 11.2 BB% over 196 BF, picking up 1 W, 5 L, 1 SV, 4 HLD and 1 BS. He signed a minor league contract with NYM on Jan 29 and had his contract selected Apr 11, then was designated for assignment by NYM May 22 and outrighted May 24 before signing with TBR on May 26. A right wrist strain put him on the 15-day IL retroactive to May 28, and he missed 16 regular-season days before being activated Jun 13. TBR designated him for assignment Aug 3 and outrighted him Aug 6, and he signed with KCR on Aug 10, later going on the bereavement list Sep 19. Drafted at NFBC ADP rank 588, taken in 2 of 674 drafts as a rare pick, he finished 855th of 1472 in the TDK LABS 5x5 value rank and 417th of 575 relief pitchers. His 23.0 CSW% over 778 pitches was the 19th lowest of 517 pitchers with 100+ BF. He pitched to a 5.62 ERA in 16.0 IP before the wrist stint and a 3.90 ERA in 30.0 IP after he came back. Through mid-May the TDK LABS card found no closer signal for him, just archived mentions of ugly ratios; by late Jul it noted his underlying numbers had turned around, and by mid-Sep it described him as an experienced reliever working setup innings in an unsettled closer situation.