Ronald Acuña Jr. recently returned to the Atlanta Braves hoping to give his team a much-needed boost — but things haven’t gone as he’d hoped. Since the Venezuelan star rejoined the lineup, the Braves have won just 3 of 12 games. Their latest blow came against the Diamondbacks, who came from behind to hand Atlanta a demoralizing loss in a game the Braves had nearly sealed.
In response to the skid, the Braves made a move, calling up a 37-year-old veteran from Triple-A — a familiar face who began his big league career in Atlanta but hadn’t pitched for the club in more than a decade. He spent the 2024 season with the Orioles.
During his early years with the Braves, he posted a remarkable 1.43 ERA. Notably, he never shared the clubhouse with Acuña Jr., who debuted in the majors four years after this veteran left Atlanta. The reliever also won a World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2018.
Who did the Braves call up?
According to Ken Rosenthal, the veteran in question is Craig Kimbrel — a 15-year MLB veteran who opened the 2025 season in the minors but was always a candidate to return to the big leagues.
Kimbrel’s first stint with Atlanta was dominant: a 15–10 record over 294 appearances, 186 saves, 289 innings pitched, just 153 hits and 12 home runs allowed, and 476 strikeouts. His performance earned him multiple accolades, including the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2011.
SURVEY Will Kimbrel be the answer to the Braves' problems?
Will Kimbrel be the answer to the Braves' problems?
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How bad is the Braves’ bullpen right now?
It’s not a total disaster — at least not within the National League. Atlanta’s bullpen currently ranks fifth in the NL with a 3.90 ERA, just behind the Cubs. But when compared across all of MLB, their bullpen sits squarely in the middle of the pack — a concerning drop-off for a team with postseason ambitions.