Craig Kimbrel Assigned to Braves Double-A Affiliate Columbus

Veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel has rejoined the Atlanta Braves organization on a minor league deal and was recently assigned to their new Double-A affiliate, the Columbus Clingstones, marking his first Double-A appearance with the Braves since 2009. In his debut, Kimbrel pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two and walking one, offering some hope for fans despite concerns about his recent performance decline and age. Kimbrel is expected to continue ramping up in the minors, with a likely promotion to Triple-A before potentially joining the major league roster in May if he performs well. The Braves bullpen has struggled significantly this season, ranking near the bottom of the league in ERA, and management is hoping Kimbrel can provide much-needed support, though expectations remain tempered given his 5.33 ERA last year with Baltimore. While Kimbrel's past dominance earned him Hall of Fame consideration, it remains uncertain if he can recapture enough form to make a significant impact for Atlanta this season. If he is successful in the minors, his contract will convert to a $2 million major league deal upon promotion.