What Happened to Craig Kimbrel?

Kevin Smith

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Happened to Craig Kimbrel

Craig Kimbrel is one of the most dominant relievers in recent baseball history. He has amassed numerous accolades and has established himself as one of the most feared pitchers in the game.

However, his recent performance with the Chicago White Sox has raised questions about his future. After being traded from the Chicago Cubs to the White Sox in July 2021, Kimbrel struggled to find his footing, posting a 5.09 ERA in the regular season and a 9.00 ERA in the playoffs.

We will explore what happened to Craig Kimbrel and try to understand the factors that contributed to his struggles in his first season with the White Sox.

Background on Kimbrel’s Career

Craig Kimbrel began his career in 2010 as a relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, where he quickly established himself as one of the best closers in the league.

He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2011 and was named to the All-Star team for the first time in 2011.

Kimbrel continued to dominate in the following years, earning six more All-Star selections and leading the league in saves four times.

Prior to his trade to the White Sox, Kimbrel was playing for the Chicago Cubs, where he had become a crucial part of the team’s bullpen. In his first season with the Cubs in 2019, he recorded 13 saves and a 0.00 ERA in 23 appearances.

The following season, he posted a 0.83 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 21.2 innings pitched. He was named to his seventh All-Star team in 2021 and was considered one of the best relievers in the league.

Kimbrel’s role as a closer was crucial to the Cubs’ success, as he was often relied upon to secure wins in the later innings. He was known for his high-velocity fastball and devastating curveball, which made him a difficult pitcher to hit.

His importance to the Cubs’ bullpen was evidenced by his high number of saves and his low ERA, which helped the team win numerous games.

Kimbrel’s Performance With the White Sox

After being traded to the White Sox, Craig Kimbrel struggled to maintain his dominant form. In 24 regular season games with the White Sox, he had a 5.09 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 17.2 innings pitched.

While he did record nine saves, his ERA was significantly higher than his career average of 2.57, and his strikeout rate had dropped from 14.2 K/9 in 2020 to 17.9 K/9 in 2021.

One possible reason for Kimbrel’s struggles with the White Sox was his role on the team. Prior to the trade, he had been the closer for the Cubs, and he was used to pitching in high-pressure situations.

However, with the White Sox, he was not always used as the closer, as the team already had a dominant closer in Liam Hendriks. This may have affected Kimbrel’s mindset and could have led to him being less effective on the mound.

Another possible reason for Kimbrel’s decline in performance is his age. At 33 years old, he is no longer a young pitcher, and it’s possible that his skills have begun to decline.

Additionally, he had been pitching for several years without taking a break, as the 2020 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have led to fatigue or injury, which could have affected his performance.

Finally, it’s possible that Kimbrel simply had difficulty adjusting to a new team and a new role. Pitchers often rely on routines and familiarity, and being traded to a new team mid-season could have disrupted Kimbrel’s routine.

Additionally, the White Sox may have had a different approach to pitching than the Cubs, which could have required Kimbrel to make adjustments that he was not used to.

Overall, there are several possible reasons for Kimbrel’s decline in performance with the White Sox, including his role on the team, his age, and the difficulty of adjusting to a new team and role.

However, it’s important to remember that Kimbrel has had a long and successful career, and it’s possible that he will bounce back in future seasons.

Kimbrel’s Postseason Struggles

Craig Kimbrel’s struggles with the White Sox extended to the playoffs, where he had difficulty pitching in high-pressure situations. In three playoff games, he had a 9.00 ERA and three strikeouts in two innings pitched.

He gave up two earned runs in each of his appearances, including a crucial home run in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros.

Kimbrel’s struggles in the playoffs may be due in part to his role on the team. As mentioned previously, he was not always used as the closer with the White Sox, which may have affected his mindset and led to him being less effective on the mound.

Additionally, the playoffs are a high-pressure environment, and some pitchers may struggle to perform at their best in these situations.

Kimbrel has a long history of success in the playoffs, but it’s possible that his recent struggles could be a sign that he is not as effective in high-pressure situations as he once was.

Another possible reason for Kimbrel’s struggles in the playoffs is his age. As a pitcher gets older, their skills and endurance may begin to decline, and this can be especially noticeable in high-pressure situations like the playoffs.

It’s possible that Kimbrel’s age is catching up with him, and that he is no longer as effective in these situations as he once was.

Overall, there are several possible reasons for Craig Kimbrel’s struggles in the playoffs, including his role on the team and his age.

However, it’s important to remember that Kimbrel has had a long and successful career, and it’s possible that he will bounce back in future postseasons.

Craig Kimbrel’s Performance with the White Sox in the 2021 Season

CategoryStatistic
Regular season ERA5.09
Regular season WHIP0.93
Regular season strikeouts64
Playoffs ERA9.00
Playoffs strikeouts3
Playoffs innings pitched2.0

This table shows the key statistics for Craig Kimbrel during the 2021 season with the Chicago White Sox. The regular season ERA of 5.09 was a significant increase from his previous seasons, while the WHIP of 0.93 and 64 strikeouts were still impressive. In the playoffs, Kimbrel struggled with an ERA of 9.00, 3 strikeouts, and 2 innings pitched.

FAQs

Was Craig Kimbrel injured during his time with the White Sox?

There were no reported injuries that impacted Kimbrel’s performance with the White Sox. His decline in performance appears to be primarily related to his role on the team and struggles in high-pressure situations.

How did the Cubs perform after trading Craig Kimbrel?

The Cubs finished the 2021 season with a record of 71-91, finishing fourth in the National League Central. The trade of Craig Kimbrel was one of several moves made by the Cubs as they underwent a rebuilding phase.

Did Nick Madrigal and Codi Heuer perform well for the Cubs?

Nick Madrigal performed well for the Cubs in his limited time with the team, hitting .305 with a .349 OBP in 54 plate appearances before suffering a season-ending injury. Codi Heuer had a 4.61 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched for the Cubs.

What is Craig Kimbrel’s contract situation with the White Sox?

Craig Kimbrel is signed through the 2022 season with a club option for 2023. He is set to earn $16 million in 2022, and the club option for 2023 is valued at $16 million with a $1 million buyout.

Conclusion

Craig Kimbrel’s performance with the White Sox was a significant decline from his previous seasons as a dominant closer. He struggled with an elevated ERA and fewer strikeouts, and his struggles in the playoffs only exacerbated concerns about his performance.

Possible reasons for his decline include his age, difficulty adjusting to a new team and role, and struggles in high-pressure situations.

However, despite these challenges, Kimbrel is a talented and accomplished pitcher with a long history of success. It’s possible that he will bounce back in future seasons, whether with the White Sox or another team.

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Kevin Smith

I am a dedicated learner who is constantly pursuing my dreams in many areas of life. I am a Finance major at the University of Maryland, a professional baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays and the owner of my personal brand, Elevate Baseball. I hope to inspire younger learners of all sports and interests to tirelessly pursue their dreams, whatever that may be. LinkedIn

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