Braves Promote Top Relief Prospect Craig Kimbrel to Gwinnett

by gondeee on Sep 2, 2009 3:24 PM EDT in Minor League News Comment 28 comments

There were some people asking why the Braves didn't promote Craig Kimbrel to Gwinnett when the organization was promoting a bunch of players yesterday. As if the Braves heard you, they have seen fit to promote the talented reliever from double-A Mississippi to triple-A Gwinnett.

This will be Kimbrel's fourth minor league level this season. After starting the year and struggling at Myrtle Beach (A+), the Braves sent him back down to Rome (A-) where he regained his form. They then sent him back to the Beach, and shortly after to double-A. In Mississippi, Kimbrel allowed only one run in 12 games, while striking out 17 in 11.2 innings. On the season, the right-hander has struck out a sweet 100 batters in only 58 innings.

The Braves also promoted RHP Ryne Reynoso to Gwinnett. He had spent the entire season at double-A, compiling a 3.47 ERA and a .236 average against.

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Gotta be careful here…I don’t want to see Devine 2.0

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Sep 2, 2009 3:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Devine was promoted the year he was drafted… its clearly different

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Sep 2, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was also a three year college player...

And his quick ascent through the minors came at…age 21.

My first argument against socialized healthcare? Yunel Escobar's grill.

by MichaelProcton on Sep 3, 2009 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holy crap

I should go out to Gwinnett again, just so I can say that I’ve seen Kimbrel at all four levels of the Minors in one season.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Sep 2, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Talk about moving fast

Has anyone moved four levels in one year for the Braves before other than Devine?

by nikeshox04 on Sep 2, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m not sure what Andruw did…Does skipping a level count, because I think Andruw skipped AAA.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Sep 2, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No I wasn’t counting skipping levels. Andruw did play in AAA. But yes you’re right, he went from A+ all the way to MLB in 1996.

by nikeshox04 on Sep 2, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just looked at his stats

It’s incredible that it’s almost ok that he’s walking 6.4/9 because his ridiculous K rate gives him a nice 2.4 K/B.

They really need to come down, though, the walks.

Mat Gamel is way too cool for double consonants.

by VivaLosBravos on Sep 2, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the walks

I think that rate is a bit skewed because of his horrible walk numbers at the beginning of the season. He definitely has room to improve on the walks though.

by blindsided789 on Sep 2, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not really

his walk rate has been extremely high in every stop except Rome (and Gwinnett, so far) including both stays at the Beach.

Mat Gamel is way too cool for double consonants.

by VivaLosBravos on Sep 2, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s bad at Gwinnett now too, 2 in 1 inning.

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Sep 3, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

If the Braves are looking to use him out of the MLB bullpen at some point in 2010.

http://www.capitolavenueclub.com/

by PWHjort on Sep 2, 2009 3:56 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think they would be moving him so fast if they weren’t.

by nikeshox04 on Sep 2, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Mat Gamel is way too cool for double consonants.

by VivaLosBravos on Sep 2, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Off Subject but......

Julio Teheran was awesome today!

7IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 7K

by Jay212033 on Sep 2, 2009 4:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Incredible

That Rome still lost.

That’s at least 27 scoreless inning in a row by the offense.

by parish on Sep 2, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This seems like a big mistake. Kimbrel needs to demonstrate far better command before moving up.

Obviously, ATL’s professional talent evaluators know best, and CK must have shown them something in his limited time in MI to warrant a promotion, but he just doesn’t seem ready to face AAA hitting.

If Albert played in the AFL, they’d have to rename it the AZ/NM Fall League, based on where his homers landed.

by Yakker on Sep 2, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

its like a test

to see how he performs under the pressures of closing out games at a higher level in a play-off push. im pretty sure they keep him in AAA for a while next year to work out those walks

by drumzalicious on Sep 3, 2009 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would keep Kimbrel in AA until he resolves his command issues.

If Albert played in the AFL, they’d have to rename it the AZ/NM Fall League, based on where his homers landed.

by Yakker on Sep 3, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, the command is a concern...

But when you’re allowing less than 3 H/9, you’re doing something right.

My first argument against socialized healthcare? Yunel Escobar's grill.

by MichaelProcton on Sep 3, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, walking everybody

If Albert played in the AFL, they’d have to rename it the AZ/NM Fall League, based on where his homers landed.

by Yakker on Sep 4, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My college buddy Dan Hudson topped Kimbrel in this one though. He started with Kannapolis (A-), moved up to Winston-Salem (A+), then Birmingham (AA), Charlotte (AAA), and last night got called up to the majors with the White Sox.

But, back to the Braves, can’t wait to see all these guys with Gwinnett tonight in Norfolk!

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Sep 2, 2009 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Devine 2.0, Francoeur 2.0

I am not being negative, but just like wars, every generation needs to have 2 or more talents overhyped by the Front Office, or the media (this includes us) so that they can be destroyed by the pressure and shipped off to some other team where they will flourish and hopefully won’t come back to bite us.

He whose words outnumber his deeds, know that his death is better than his life.

by KomaGawa on Sep 2, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i disagree

Devine was promoted almost two months after being signed. Thats insane.

they have been a bit more patient with kimbrel tho. Im pretty sure we will see him in Spring Training and if he is shutting them down they will prob do what they did with hanson and promote him in late may

by drumzalicious on Sep 3, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope so. I am definitely more wary of rushing guys up after the past 2 seasons.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Sep 3, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

11 AA IPs in which Kimbrel showed poor command seems insufficient to warrant a call-up.

It seems the Braves are actually moving Kimbrel even faster than Hanson, who had almost 100 terrific AA IPs under his belt (and an awesome AFL) before even sniffing AAA.

If Albert played in the AFL, they’d have to rename it the AZ/NM Fall League, based on where his homers landed.

by Yakker on Sep 3, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs