Craig Kimbrel Shocks MLB: Mets Pull 9-Time All-Star Closer Back to the Bigs

Veteran closer Craig Kimbrel is back in the big leagues, this time wearing orange and blue. The New York Mets selected the 37-year-old’s contract over the weekend and wasted no time handing him the ball; Kimbrel fired a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts in Sunday’s 6-3 win over Oakland, officially becoming the 10th franchise of his decorated career. The call-up comes as the Mets search for stability in a bullpen that ranked 25th in ERA through the season’s first two weeks and has already blown four late leads. Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star and the active leader in saves, owns 440 career conversions—fifth on the all-time list behind Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Kenley Jansen and Lee Smith. Although the right-hander posted a 5.33 ERA with Baltimore two seasons ago and spent 2025 rehabbing from elbow surgery, his desire to keep pitching never wavered. “I still love the competition—if there’s a job to do and I can help a club win, I’m in,” Kimbrel told reporters before his debut. General manager David Stearns echoed that sentiment, citing Kimbrel’s “proven swing-and-miss stuff” and “calming presence” as key reasons for the promotion. Manager Carlos Mendoza plans to use Kimbrel in high-leverage spots immediately, with incumbent closer Edwin Díaz still working back from forearm tightness. Early results are encouraging: Kimbrel’s trademark curveball averaged 86 mph Sunday, two ticks above his 2024 number, and his fastball touched 96. If the velocity uptick sticks, New York could have the late-inning answer it lacked last April—and Kimbrel could inch closer to the 500-save milestone that only Rivera and Hoffman have reached. For a Mets club hovering at .500, that combination of experience and upside may prove pivotal in a crowded NL East race.