Craig Kimbrel cemented himself as one of baseball’s best closers on Friday night with a historic achievement.
The Philadelphia Phillies reliever became the eighth player in MLB history to record 400 saves.
Kimbrel joins Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith, Francisco Rodriguez, John Franco, Billy Wagner, and Kenley Jansen. Jansen accomplished the feat earlier this season.
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Craig Kimbrel, #31 of the Philadelphia Phillies, is dunked in water by Bryson Stott, #5, and Brandon Marsh, #16, after recording his 400th save against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 26, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. . (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Kimbrel scored his 400th save Friday night against his former club, the Atlanta Braves (at home turf) by getting National League MVP favorite Ronald Acuna Jr. to roll the game’s run. tie.
In his prime, Kimbrel was undoubtedly the best closer in all of baseball.
In his first nine seasons with both Atlanta and the Boston Red Sox, he pitched with a 1.91 ERA, was named an All-Star seven times, and was on the Cy Young Award ballot five times, all as a top-nine finalist. . In that span, he had a 0.92 WHIP, struck out 14.7 batters over nine innings and racked up 333 saves. From 2011 to 2014, he led the National League in saves.
Philadelphia Phillies number 31 Craig Kimbrel reacts after recording his 400th save against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 26, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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In recent years, it’s largely been a different story, posting a 3.94 ERA since 2019, which includes a 2.26 ERA in 2021.
Entering Friday night, his ERA was 6.00 in his first season with the Phillies. He spent time with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers in the previous four seasons.
Rivera and Hoffman are the only pitchers in the 500 save club … and the 600 save club, so Kimbrel has a long way to go and isn’t the dominant reliever he once was.
Craig Kimbrel, #31 of the Philadelphia Phillies, throws during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 26, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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But at the very least, he’ll be remembered for having one of the best cousins of any closer in the history of the game.
And no one will ever forget that stance.