How does a future Hall of Famer exceed expectations in his first month with a new team? Craig Kimbrel has delivered everything the Orioles could ask for during the young season.
Craig Kimbrel worked himself into into a jam Monday night before putting away one of the best hitters of the 21st century. With the tying run on second and the winning run on first, Kimbrel fired four consecutive fastballs to Mike Trout. Trout watched all four go by; three were called strikes.
It’s logical that a pitcher ranked seventh on the all time saves list pitches with confidence—nobody racks up 423 saves by accident—but four straight heaters take some guts. In that situation, against that batter, at age 35? Kimbrel didn’t blink.
The Orioles knew they were signing a potential Hall of Famer when they inked Kimbrel to a one-year, $13 million deal in December. They did not know with certainty what type of pitcher Kimbrel would be at this point of his career.
Kimbrel lost his touch in the NLCS last year. The righty allowed the winning runs in Games 3 and 4 to provide Arizona the boost they needed in the series. Kimbrel heard the wrath of Philly fans, and he left town looking to continue his legendary career elsewhere.
The signing made too much sense for the Orioles to pass up. Baltimore needed a one-year replacement with Félix Bautista sidelined, and Kimbrel represented the highest quality rental on the market. No pitcher could replace Bautista’s production, but Kimbrel would bring a steady hand to a pressure filled position.
The Orioles likely needed to guarantee Kimbrel the closer role before he signed the largest free agent contract of the Mike Elias era. Still, Baltimore had breakout reliever Yennier Cano waiting in the wings if Kimbrel struggled. DL Hall, a hard-throwing lefty with a closer’s arsenal, remained on the roster at the time of the signing as well.
It’s still April, but Kimbrel has already exceeded expectations. He picked up his sixth save against the Angels and lowered his ERA to 0.90. Kimbrel blew a save during his first Orioles appearance on a weak single, a pair of stolen bases and a sacrifice fly. The Orioles still managed to win that game, and Kimbrel has been nothing but nails since then.
How has the 35-year-old been so successful this month? Kimbrel ranks in the 99th percentile with a whopping 44.9 K%. His 16 strikeouts trail only A’s phenom Mason Miller amongst closers, and his 0.50 WHIP is the lowest total amongst pitchers with multiple saves.
Kimbrel finally walked his first batter of the season his last time out against the Angels. It’s somewhat difficult to imagine a player routinely pounding the zone with fastballs and experiencing this level of success.
At 93.6 MPH, Kimbrel’s average fastball falls below the league average. He’s thrown the pitch 70.1% of the time this season with his legendary knuckle curve accounting for the rest of the workload. The tales of Kimbrel’s changeup were greatly exaggerated after one spring appearance, but he’s only needed two pitches this month.
Baltimore’s lineup is absolutely bursting with talent right now. The Orioles are approaching double digits with All-Star candidates after a hot start to the season, and Kimbrel has to fall within that category.
Kimbrel’s level of performance has reduced his veteran status and HOF pedigree to simply a bonus. His hug with Colton Cowser the day after the rookie “yeeted” his milestone ball made for one of ever-growing feel-good moments in 2024. His save battle with Kenley Jansen should provide a cheeky subplot in an AL East rivalry, and his wealth of experience should boost an inexperienced team come October.
The Kimbrel signing did not generate an overwhelming amount of excitement during the offseason. It was a practical path to address an unfortunate situation. The Orioles will still be thrilled to get Bautista back next year, but Kimbrel has already generated more buzz than many expected during the young season.