If you weren’t familiar with the name Craig Kimbrel during his brief stint in the majors in 2010, you certainly can’t miss him now. The National League Rookie of the Year blew everyone away with 46 saves, an ERA of 2.10 and 127 strikeouts last season. He will be entering his second full year as Atlanta’s closer in 2012, which brings up those haunting questions of the ever troublesome sophomore slump. Will we see a dip in Kimbrel’s production this year? In short, don’t count on it.
With a ridiculous K/9 ratio of 14.84, he ranked second in baseball in 2011. His WHIP dropped from 1.21 to 1.04 as he honed in on his control, and opponents batted a mere .178 against him on the season.
One thing critics will point to is his breakdown at the end of his first full campaign. The Braves blew a huge lead in September and wound up missing the playoffs altogether. Kimbrel, if you’ll recall, gave up a game-tying run in the ninth inning of the last game of the season, and Philadelphia eventually came out on top, ending Atlanta’s season.
A blown save like that is tough to cope with no matter who you are, but Kimbrel seems poised to put any prior failure behind him.
“It was fun, but that was last year,” Kimbrel said. “Whatever I did last year does not have anything to do with what will happen this year. I’m coming in with a clean slate. I’m trying to go into this year trying to have an even better year than I did last year. I had a lot of success, but there was also a lot of room for improvement.”
Do you really think he isn’t determined to surpass everything he’s already accomplished? This guy will not let 2011 dwell on him, so be prepared for a hot start right out of the gates.
Kimbrel’s ZiPS Projections predict relatively similar stats in 2012. He has steadily maintained his ridiculous numbers throughout his climb to the majors, and it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon.
You can read all the stats and projections you want, but if you just watch Kimbrel close out a game, you’ll see the intensity and resolve he brings to the table. Relievers aren’t the most coveted players in fantasy baseball drafts, but if you’re looking for someone to repeat their success from last season, Kimbrel is a solid option. I wouldn’t wait around for a sophomore slump from this guy.
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