MLB: Recent Rookies of the Year – Where Are They Now?
By Keaton Moore
Craig Kimbrel – 2011 NL Rookie of the Year
Once one of the most untouchable closers in baseball, Craig Kimbrel won the Rookie of the Year award in 2011. He was drafted in the third round of the 2008 amateur draft by the Atlanta Braves. The same team that drafted Kimbrel called him up on May 7, 2010. In his debut, he pitched a scoreless inning against the Philadelphia Phillies, giving up one hit and striking out two. However, he only appeared in 21 games and did not qualify for the Rookie of the Year award until the following year.
Stemming from his 2.10 ERA and 46 saves, Kimbrel became the NL Rookie of the Year with 130 votes. After his award-winning season, Kimbrel shone brightest with the Braves. Through his five-year stint in Atlanta, Kimbrel went 15-10 with a 1.43 ERA, appearing in four All-Star Games. He averaged roughly 37 saves per season, topping out at 50 in 2013.
His reputation as being one of the game’s most dominant closers began to fade after the Braves traded him away. Pitching for the San Diego Padres in 2015 and the Boston Red Sox in 2016, Kimbrel’s ERA rose from 2.58 to 3.40. Moreover, he failed to post more than 40 saves in the last two seasons. While his job as the Red Sox closer is still secure, Kimbrel is searching for a comeback season with success similar to his rookie campaign.