SAN FRANCISCO — Craig Kimbrel’s stay with the Atlanta Braves lasted just one day as the team designated the franchise’s career saves leader for assignment on Saturday and recalled left-handed pitcher Austin Cox.
The Braves had selected the 37-year-old right-hander from Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd on Friday, when they also placed right-hander Daysbel Hernandez on the 15-day injured list and and traded right-hander Scott Blewett to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations.
Kimbrel pitched a scoreless seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants in Friday’s opener to the three-game series at Oracle Park, but he had to work around trouble after giving up a leadoff hit and walking another batter. He got out of the inning on a strikeout after he picked of one runner and a runner got caught stealing for the other out.
Atlanta made a notable roster move for the second straight day after a bullpen meltdown led to an 11-10 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday despite the Braves leading 10-4 going into the ninth inning. That was the first time the Braves lost a game after leading by at least six runs in the ninth since 1973.
Kimbrel spent his first five MLB seasons with Atlanta, leading the NL in saves each year from 2011-14, and his 186 saves are the most ever for a Braves pitcher. He was traded to the San Diego Padres shortly before the start of the 2015 season, and he has pitched for several teams since, including the Baltimore Orioles last season before being released in September.
“It feels good,” Kimbrel said Friday. “I’ve been working hard for the last couple of months to get back here. Whatever the circumstances are, it’s great to be back to come and help this ballclub, throw up some zeroes and do my job.”
In addition to playing for Atlanta, San Diego and Baltimore, Kimbrel has pitched for the Boston Red Sox (2016-18), Chicago Cubs (2019-21), Chicago White Sox (2021), Los Angeles Dodgers (2022) and Philadelphia Phillies (2023).
Last year, he went 7-5 with a 5.33 ERA and 23 saves for the Orioles. He said the back problems that hampered his performance late last season are no longer an issue.
Kimbrel signed a minor league deal with Atlanta in March and was 1-1 with two saves, a 3.00 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 18 innings over 18 outings at Double-A Columbus and Triple-A Gwinnett.
“This is where I wanted to be,” Kimbrel said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere else. Obviously, it came up that that was an option, but I wanted to be here in Atlanta. It’s close to home, and this is the jersey I want to put on.”