Craig Kimbrel is back where it all started, and let me tell you, the Atlanta Braves might be sitting on a ticking time bomb—the good kind.
We’re talking about a reliever who once terrorized hitters with a fastball so nasty it made grown men flinch on deck. Craig Kimbrel, the man who used to make the ninth inning a snooze-fest for Braves fans—because everyone knew how it would end.
He would get another save, another strikeout, and another victim. And now, after over a decade, he’s donning Braves gear again, working his way back from the shadows of minor league baseball.
Tuesday night, he stepped onto the mound for Double-A Columbus, and let’s just say: the guy’s still got the spark. He punched out two in a clean eighth inning and walked one, but more importantly—he looked composed. Confident. Like a guy who’s been there, done that, and is hungry to do it all over again.
A Return with Purpose
Now, let’s not pretend this is 2011 Kimbrel. No one’s putting him on a direct flight to Cooperstown just yet. But we can say this: if he’s healthy and that heater still has bite, he could be a massive asset for a Braves bullpen that has been more wobbly than a folding chair at a tailgate.
That 4.24 ERA? Not cutting it. Ranked 21st in MLB? That’s not the Braves standard. And the 24 bombs they’ve coughed up? They are tied for third-most in the league.
There was some early-season chatter about a couple of bad apples affecting team stats. Well, guess what? We’re 17 games deep, and that apple’s rotting in the sun. It’s not just a couple of bad outings anymore—it’s a pattern.
The Road Back to Atlanta
Kimbrel’s journey back hasn’t been a straight shot. After signing his minor-league deal toward the end of Spring Training, the original plan was to get him working out in Triple-A. But plans changed.
He started off at the team’s complex in North Port, Florida, ramping up carefully. Then, boom—he’s in Double-A, facing live hitters for the first time since rejoining the Braves.
This isn’t just about nostalgia. This is about timing. The bullpen’s hurting, the long ball is haunting them, and the rotation can’t carry the weight alone. If Kimbrel flashes even a flicker of his old dominance, he’s getting the call. And with a $2 million payday on the table? You better believe the man is motivated.
A Braves Bullpen in Need of a Hero
Let’s zoom out. The Braves are built to compete now. Their lineup is dangerous, the front office has gone all-in, and the expectations are sky-high.
But every great team needs a closer they can trust. Someone who slams the door. Someone who doesn’t blink when the pressure hits ten on the dial. And maybe—just maybe—Craig Kimbrel is that guy again.
If he is, Atlanta won’t just be welcoming back an old friend. They’ll be unlocking a bullpen weapon that could shift the balance of an entire season. And that? That’s something worth watching.
