Craig Kimbrel Opens Up About What Keeps Him Playing After 16 MLB Seasons

Craig Kimbrel is 38 years old and on his eighth big league team. Most guys with that many miles on their arm are just hanging on, chasing one more payday or a ring. But Kimbrel says that’s not it at all.

Speaking on Foul Territory, the veteran reliever was asked whether he’s still chasing something in the game or if he feels like he’s giving something back at this stage. He flipped the question entirely.

Kimbrel said the game is still giving plenty to him. Specifically, it’s giving him moments with his kids that he never could have imagined when he broke in with the Braves back in 2010.

Kimbrel talked about bringing his children into the clubhouse and letting them see what it means to be a big leaguer. He talked about them learning manners from the guys around them and getting a feel for the daily grind of professional baseball. He called it gratifying and said he enjoys it every single day.

“If I can wake up tomorrow and come back in here and do it again, I’d say it’s a good day,” Kimbrel said.

It’s a different perspective for a guy who’s spent 16 seasons in the majors. Kimbrel has 440 career saves, a Cy Young Award, and a World Series ring from his time with the Red Sox in 2018. He doesn’t have much left to prove statistically. But he’s not ready to walk away either.

Kimbrel finding his footing after a rough start

The Tampa Bay Rays signed Kimbrel this offseason hoping he’d add some bite to the back end of their bullpen. But it hasn’t been smooth so far. He dealt with injuries early in his Rays stint and has only appeared in five games as of late June.

Kimbrel began the season with the New York Mets before landing in Tampa Bay. The Rays are sitting in the thick of the AL East race, which is pretty much expected at this point. They’ve got that knack for staying competitive even when the roster looks questionable on paper.

If Kimbrel can get healthy and string together consistent outings, he could be a real weapon for a team that always seems to find itself in tight games. But even if he doesn’t, it sounds like he’s already getting what he wants out of this season.

Those clubhouse moments with his kids matter. And for a guy who’s been doing this since before some of his teammates were in high school, that counts for something.