Quizzing Kimbrel on his career ahead of 400-save milestone

This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Is that all you’ve got?

Craig Kimbrel tested his baseball memory Tuesday afternoon at Oracle Park, and he wanted more before he returned to the Phillies' clubhouse before a 4-3 loss to the Giants. Kimbrel needs two more saves to become the eighth pitcher in baseball history to reach 400 in his career.

It could happen as early as Friday at Citizens Bank Park.

“I feel like I’ve been close to 400 for a while now,” Kimbrel said. “But I’m finally throwing the ball well, and I’m getting opportunities. I was reminiscing about it the other day. I got to see Billy [Wagner] get his 400th when I was in Atlanta. Now getting close and getting that same opportunity, it’s pretty cool. It’s crazy how time flies, though. So much has changed in the game. The rules have changed. The faces are always changing. It’s been fun. I still enjoy competing. I still enjoy striking out guys when I can. It’s still fun to me.”

Asked how much longer he would like to pitch, Kimbrel, who turns 35 on May 28, mentioned his 5-year-old daughter and 11-month-old son.

“It’d be cool to play until I can get him out here,” Kimbrel said.

Tuesday, we asked Kimbrel what he remembered about a few significant baseball firsts. He did pretty well, although he didn’t remember much about his first career save (Sept. 19, 2010) other than it happened against the Mets at Citi Field:

1. First game and first strikeout (May 7, 2010)
Kimbrel tossed a scoreless seventh inning in his MLB debut in a 7-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. His parents, two brothers and girlfriend (now wife) drove from Alabama to see his debut.

“It was family bonding for sure,” Kimbrel said.

He was part of history that night as Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher in baseball history to throw a shutout, blanking the Braves at 47 years, 170 days old.

“Jayson Werth, first batter, double off the wall,” Kimbrel said. “That’s welcome to the big leagues, kid.”

Kimbrel recalled that he got two strikeouts and a groundout to end the inning. He had to think about whom he struck out for the first one, though.

“Ibañez?” Kimbrel said.

Yes, Raúl Ibañez. Kimbrel struck out Carlos Ruiz for the second out. He got Wilson Valdez to ground out to end the inning.

“My first year, I didn’t hit a lot of bats,” Kimbrel said. “But I also didn’t throw a lot of strikes. I think my first year, I had like 20 innings and 20 walks. I think a lot of guys were like, 'We’re not swinging the bat because this guy can’t throw a strike.'”

Kimbrel struck out 40 and walked 16 in 20 2/3 innings in 21 appearances in 2010, going 4-0 with a 0.44 ERA and one save.

2. First win (May 20, 2010)
The Reds had a comfy 9-3 lead against the Braves at Turner Field when Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth. But the Braves scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning to win, 10-9, with Brooks Conrad hitting a walk-off grand slam.

“The left fielder tried to rob it,” Kimbrel said. “Conrad thought he caught it. They told him, ‘Hey, it went over.’”

3. First home run allowed (May 27, 2011)
Reds catcher Ramón Hernández hit a two-run home run to right field in Cincinnati’s 5-1 victory at Turner Field.

“The day before my birthday,” Kimbrel said, smiling. “We were playing the Reds. It was an oppo homer.”

Kimbrel didn’t allow a homer until the 47th appearance of his career. That’s not bad.

“Like I said, they weren’t swinging because they didn’t think I was going to be throwing a strike,” Kimbrel said.

4. First no-hitter (June 24, 2021)
The Cubs tossed a combined no-hitter in a 4-0 victory over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Kimbrel walked Chris Taylor to start the ninth before striking out Cody Bellinger, Albert Pujols and Will Smith to end the game.

“I wish I would have known it at the time,” Kimbrel said. “I had no idea [it was a no-hitter] while I was out there. I walked the first guy on four pitches, then I struck out the side. Willson Contreras gave this huge first pump. I was like, ‘It’s a four-run game, man. What are you so excited about?’ They came running out of the dugout. They said, ‘It was a no-hitter. You didn’t know that, did you?’ I had no idea. There had been like [eight] walks that game, so when there are guys on base and you’re in the bullpen, you’re not thinking there’s a no-hitter going on.”